BARBARAof 
SNOWS 


iia 


HARRY  IRVING  GREENE 


BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS 


BARBARA  OF 
THE  SNOWS 

By   HARRY   IRVING   GREENE 


With  Illustrations  by 
HARVEY  T.  DUNN 


A.  L.  BURT  COMPANY,  PUBLISHERS 

114-120  East  Twenty-third  Street      -      -      New  York 


Copyright,  1911,  by 
MOFFAT,  YARD  AND  COMPANY 

NEW  YORK 

All  Rights  Reserved 

Published,  March,  1911 
Second  Printing,  April,  1911 


BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS 

CHAPTER  I 

WILSON  STODDARD  arose  unsteadily  from  the 
round  table  and  stood  weaving  slightly  in  his 
tracks  as  he  confronted  his  companions.  His 
face  was  pale,  white  save  for  the  dark  pouches 
that  hung  underneath  his  eyes,  and  his  hand 
quivered  like  a  wind-thrummed  reed  as  he 
pointed  one  finger  like  a  hostile  pistol  at  Gray- 
ford  who  sat  opposite  him.  And  at  Stoddard's 
ominous  uprising  the  other  three  sitters  at  the 
table  slid  back  in  their  seats  and  gripped  their 
chair-arms  with  the  watchful  nervousness  of 
men  who  half  expect  a  sudden  exchange  of  fierce 
blows  in  their  midst;  while  the  other  loungers 
who  happened  to  be  near  ceased  their  talk  and 
eyed  the  table  expectantly.  Then  Stoddard's 
voice  shaken  by  anger  and  much  strong  drink 
broke  the  silence. 

1 

2135899  ' 


2       .  BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS 

"Gray ford,  you  lie  and  you  know  that  you 
lie." 

The  thick  neck  of  the  one  addressed  swelled 
at  the  words  and  his  skin  took  on  a  purplish 
hue.  "By  heavens,  I'll  not  permit  any  man — " 
he  began  as  his  hand  closed  about  the  knob  of  his 
whip-like  walking  stick.  But  Stoddard's  voice 
snapped  the  sentence  in  twain  as  scissors  snap 
thread. 

"You  will  permit  anything  I  choose  to  say. 
To-day  you  shall  listen  to  me  in  silence,  as  I 
have  silently  listened  to  you  in  the  months  past. 
And  mind  you  what  I  say,  Gray  ford,  I'll 
tolerate  no  further  attacks  by  you  upon  myself, 
be  they  made  openly  or  through  the  ambush  of 
repetition.  You  have  said  that  I  was  a  drunk- 
ard and  I  let  it  pass,  for  whether  a  man  is  drunk 
or  not  is  largely  a  matter  of  personal  opinion. 
You  have  sneered  at  me  as  a  gambler  and  I  did 
not  resent  it,  though  I  have  bet  no  more  and  no 
oftener  than  do  half  the  members  of  this  club. 
You  have  openly  charged  that  I  was  a  disgrace 
to  this  organization  where  none  but  gentlemen 
are  supposed  to  enter,  and  I  was  silent.  But 


BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS  3 

when  you  accuse  me  of  trifling  with  the  love  of 
good  women  I  say,  Gray  ford,  you  lie." 

An  inarticulate  sound  came  from  Grayford's 
lips,  a  gurgling  intake  of  his  breath  between  set 
teeth  as  he  arose  to  his  feet  with  his  stick  gripped 
tightly.  Whether  he  was  about  to  strike  the 
man  before  him  or  whether  he  merely  sought  to 
leave  his  presence  in  peace  none  who  saw  him 
get  upon  his  feet  felt  sure,  but  Stoddard,  sud- 
denly snatching  up  the  heavy  match  receiver 
that  stood  upon  the  little  table  in  the  nook,  drew 
back  his  arm  and  hurled  the  missile  violently  at 
the  arising  man.  Just  above  the  eye  it  struck 
him  and  the  onlookers  saw  a  strip  of  white  sud- 
denly show  on  his  forehead  as  the  projectile  cut 
the  scalp  and  then,  glancing,  crashed  in  frag- 
ments against  the  opposite  wall.  Grayford 
threw  up  his  hands  with  a  gurgle  and  fell  heavily 
backward. 

From  all  sides  arose  exclamations  of  dismay 
as  the  dull  thud  of  the  falling  body  sounded  in 
their  ears;  then  they  quickly  gathered  and  bent 
over  it — all  save  the  one  who  had  dealt  the  blow 
and  who  still  stood  white  and  heaving,  with  his 


4  BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS 

eyes  fastened  upon  his  fallen  enemy.  Blood  was 
streaming  from  the  cut  upon  the  forehead  and 
the  body  lay  in  a  position  that  was  not  pleasant 
to  look  upon.  Quickly  they  straightened  him  out 
to  his  full  length  and  ministered  to  him  as  best 
they  knew  how,  chafing  his  wrists  with  their 
palms  and  dashing  water  in  his  face ;  but  he  still 
remained  limp  and  breathless,  with  his  gray  eyes 
wide  open  and  staring  uncannily  into  those  of  the 
one  who  had  felled  him.  Then  Price,  who  had 
dabbled  in  physic,  opened  the  fallen  man's  shirt 
bosom  and  placed  his  ear  above  his  heart.  For 
a  moment  he  listened  intently  and  then 
arose  with  a  gray  face  which  he  turned  upon 
Stoddard. 

"You  have  killed  him,"  he  said  coldly. 

The  one  accused  swayed  more  violently,  stag- 
gered and  seemed  about  to  fall  as  the  other  man 
had  done;  then  his  wandering  hands  found  the 
rim  of  the  table  and  he  grew  steadier.  "No — 
no,"  he  gasped  in  a  voice  that  sounded  as  faint 
and  hollow  as  though  it  had  come  from  a  man 
coopered  up  in  a  cask  or  deep  in  a  well.  "It 
can't  be  that.  He  is  only  stunned — knocked 
out,  you  know."  He  stepped  forward  and 


BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS  5 

looked  close  into  the  eyes  of  the  prostrate  one, 
while  a  great  horror  seemed  to  slowly  freeze  his 
vitals. 

"Hold  that  man  and  telephone  for  a  physician 
and  the  police,"  cried  a  voice  from  the  rear. 
And  at  those  words  Stoddard,  with  the  start  of 
a  wild  animal  that  hears  the  sudden  onrush  of 
an  enemy,  straightened  himself  and  stood  tense 
and  alert,  all  tremblings  gone  and  the  glitter 
of  desperation  in  his  eyes.  The  fierce  first  in- 
stinct of  primordial  man  who  found  himself  face 
to  face  with  deadly  danger  arose  surging  within 
him;  and  like  primordial  man  he  stood  before 
them  watchful  and  threatening,  conscious  only 
that  he  would  fight  to  the  bitter  end  should  they 
seek  to  lay  hands  upon  him.  And  though  they 
knew  he  was  but  the  shell  of  his  former  self,  the 
wild  look  in  his  eyes  and  the  vivid  remembrance 
of  his  past  prowess  awed  them,  and  they  made 
no  move  as  he  slowly  backed  away  from  them 
and  towards  the  door.  And  having  reached  it 
and  standing  with  one  hand  upon  the  knob,  he 
for  an  instant  stood  facing  those  who  for  years 
had  been  his  closest  friends,  now  turned  his  most 
dangerous  enemies ;  then  turning  the  latch  darted 


6  BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS 

down  the  flight  of  marble  steps  and  plunged  into 
the  crowd  of  the  street.  At  the  first  corner  he 
turned  to  the  right,  and  passing  through  a  hotel 
lobby  left  it  and  entered  another  street;  ran 
down  an  alley  and  emerging  from  that  cast 
himself  more  slowly  into  the  current  of  the  great 
gulf-stream  that  swept  solidly  through  the  hu- 
man sea  of  the  city.  With  a  hundred  thousand 
human  beings  around  him  to  screen  his  tall  figure 
he  adapted  his  stride  to  the  pace  of  the  stream  as 
he  drifted  aimlessly  onward  with  eyes  staring 
straight  ahead  and  brain  whirling  dizzily.  And 
then  with  the  realization  that  imminent  danger 
was  past,  his  steadiness  vanished  and  the  palsy 
of  reaction  took  its  place.  His  knees  grew  weak 
beneath  him,  his  hands  shook  and  he  muttered  as 
he  walked,  with  the  unintelligible  utterances  of 
one  who  tries  to  talk  in  his  sleep,  as  his  brain,  be- 
fuddled again  now  that  the  excitement  was  past, 
clumsily  began  arranging  the  order  of  things 
which  he  must  next  do.  Already  the  cringing 
guilt  of  the  fugitive  was  upon  him,  and  as  a  fa- 
miliar face  passed  he  dodged  as  if  struck  at  and 
went  by  with  averted  eyes,  when  but  an  hour  be- 
fore he  would  have  stopped  and  held  out  his  hand* 


BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS  7 

A  woman  whom  he  had  known  nearly  all  his 
life  smiled  at  him  from  the  crowd,  and  his 
knees  smote  each  other  as  he  fumbled  for  his 
hat  to  return  the  salutation.  Yet  she  was  one 
of  the  few  who  had  defended  him  valiantly 
through  all,  as  she  stoutly  maintained  that  he  was 
not  lost,  but  only  for  the  moment  gone  astray. 
From  behind  him  he  heard  a  voice  that  held  the 
merciless  sting  of  Grayford's,  and  he  leaped 
aside  at  the  sound  and  turned  at  bay  in  a  nearby 
entrance  until  he  realized  that  Grayford's  voice 
was  forever  stilled.  Then  he  leaned  against  the 
wall  and  covered  his  face  with  his  hands,  like  a 
man  who  has  gazed  into  the  eyes  of  death  from 
a  yard's  distance  and  would  shut  out  what  he 
saw  there.  When  he  looked  up  a  minute  later 
a  dozen  loiterers  were  staring  at  him  with  the  in- 
solent vulgarity  of  curbstone  loafers,  and  he  gath- 
ered himself  together  and  passed  rapidly  on. 

With  every  minute  it  came  to  him  more  in- 
sistently that  he  must  get  off  these  streets  and 
into  some  private  refuge.  Thousands  of  people 
of  whose  very  existence  he  had  no  knowledge, 
knew  him  by  sight.  Of  all  the  famed  athletes 
of  the  great  university  which  lay  beyond  the  city, 


8  .        BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS 

he  in  his  day  had  been  the  most  noted  and  the 
one  who  had  oftenest  brought  it  victory.  Just 
ahead  of  him  he  saw  the  sign  of  a  cheap  hotel, 
and  into  the  place  he  went  and  registered  under 
a  name  which  was  not  his  own,  after  which  he 
followed  a  bell-boy  to  the  room  allotted  him. 
Locking  the  door  he  threw  himself  upon  the  bed. 
Slowly  his  mind  wandered  along  the  crooked 
trail  of  the  past.  As  though  he  lived  it  again 
he  saw  his  boyhood  life  at  home ;  the  death  of  his 
parents;  his  inheritance  of  his  father's  fortune 
and  his  years  at  college  when  his  name  was  a 
by-word  for  physical  might  and  good  fellow- 
ship— when  all  womankind  smiled  upon  him  and 
all  men  delighted  to  do  him  honor.  Then  when 
his  books  had  been  laid  aside,  the  aimless  drifting 
and  occasional  drinking  bouts  that  had  merged 
so  imperceptibly  into  steady  tippling  and  his 
sinking  to  the  level  of  the  rarely  sober  club 
lounger.  Afterwards  how,  one  by  one,  by  pairs 
and  by  whole  companies,  his  former  friends  had 
turned  their  backs  upon  him  until  only  a  score 
of  the  loyal  remained — and  they  only  because 
they  must  pardon  his  vice  in  the  name  of  their 
own.  Even  in  his  club,  where  one  could  do  al- 


BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS  9 

most  as  one  willed,  he  had  been  daily  ignored  or 
almost  openly  insulted  by  innuendoes  that  he 
could  not  resent.  And  now  realizing  that  he 
was  only  tolerated  there  by  reason  of  the  past, 
he  had  more  than  once  written  his  resignation 
and  sat  fumbling  it  with  nervous  hands,  only 
to  finally  tear  it  to  shreds  and  arise  with  the 
fierce  resolve  that  his  manhood  should  triumph 
and  that  he  would  again  stand  with  his  shoulders 
squared  among  his  friends.  Yet  month  by 
month  the  old  life  had  gone  on  until — the  tears 
welled  from  his  eyes  and  his  fingers  buried  them- 
selves like  talons  in  the  coverlet  as  his  half 
wrecked  nerves  shook  him  from  head  to  foot. 
The  stimulus  of  the  liquor  that  he  had  drunk  ear- 
lier in  the  day  had  passed  and  he  was  as  weak  as  a 
child;  shaking  and  numb  of  brain  when  now  of 
all  times  he  should  be  alert  and  keen-witted. 
Arising  he  went  to  the  telephone  and  ordered 
whisky,  and  when  it  came  gulped  it  down  eag- 
erly. It  steadied  him  instantly  and  swept  the 
fog  from  his  brain  as  a  keen  wind  sweeps  the 
mist  from  the  sea.  Once  more  he  could  reason 
logically. 

He  had  killed  a  fellow  man.     It  had  been  un- 


10  BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS 

wittingly  done  to  be  sure,  and  while  he  would 
have  given  all  but  his  own  life  to  have  undone 
the  deed,  his  act  had  been  inexcusable  under  the 
law,  and  the  law  would  cry  aloud  for  vengeance. 
While  at  college  he  had  read  the  criminal  code 
and  none  knew  the  statutes  bearing  upon  homi- 
cide better  than  he.  Sternly  they  had  said  to 
him  that  he  who  shed  the  blood  of  his  fellow 
man  cold-bloodedly,  premeditatedly  and  with  a 
wicked  and  abandoned  heart — that  man  had  com- 
mitted murder  in  the  first  degree  and  by  man 
should  his  blood  be  shed.  But  he  who  killed 
not  intending  so  to  do,  but  in  wrath  and  with  a 
weapon  of  death  and  while  not  defending  or 
believing  that  he  defended  his  own  life  or  body 
from  grievous  hurt — that  man  should  be  deemed 
guilty  of  murder  in  the  second  or  lesser  degree, 
and  should  be  swallowed  by  dungeons  until 
through  death  or  long  years  of  servitude  he  had 
paid  the  usurious  debt  of  the  law.  Under  the 
statutes  his  homicide  had  been  clearly  of  the  sec- 
ond sort.  He  had  not  intended  to  kill  or  even  to 
seriously  hurt;  yet  he  had  used  a  deadly  weapon 
in  wrath  and  when  neither  defending  his  own 
life  or  body  from  great  harm  or  even  believing 


BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS  11 

life  or  limbs  were  in  great  jeopardy.  For  an 
hour  he  sat  by  the  window  as  he  racked  his  brain 
for  a  single  ray  of  hope;  then  as  the  afternoon 
wore  thin  and  melted  into  evening,  hope  came  in 
a  wild  thought.  Upon  the  streets  the  newsboys 
were  shouting  their  wares,  and  Stoddard  leaping 
to  his  feet  went  bounding  down  the  steps  that 
led  outside.  Surely  Grayford  had  been  only 
stunned  after  all.  An  all-wise  Providence  hav- 
ing taught  him  an  unforgettable  lesson,  had  in 
its  infinite  mercy  intervened  and  granted  him 
one  last  chance  for  the  redemption  of  soul  and 
body.  So  convinced  did  he  become  that  this 
must  be  so,  and  that  his  black  despair  of  the  last 
hour  had  been  but  a  hideous  nightmare,  that  his 
heart  leaped  strongly  within  him  and  he  walked 
the  street  almost  lightly.  Eagerly  he  sought 
an  evening's  paper  that  its  silence  might  confirm 
his  hope. 

An  urchin  howling  incoherently  almost  ran 
between  his  legs,  and  Wilson  clutched  at  him 
as  he  would  have  clutched  at  an  eel.  Dropping 
a  coin  into  the  dirty  hand  he  snatched  a  paper 
from  it  and  stepped  into  a  nearby  entrance, 
Slowly,  as  a  condemned  criminal  might  unfold 


12  BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS 

a  writ  which  contained  either  his  death  warrant 
or  his  pardon,  his  heart  beating  tumultuously, 
his  breath  coming  quick  and  sharp,  he  opened 
it  and  read.  Then  he  lurched  forward  and 
crumpling  the  sheet  between  his  ringers  went 
staggering  down  the  street  with  drawn  face  and 
eyes  that  were  dulled  by  horror.  The  headlines 
had  told  him,  all.  William  Grayford,  retired 
architect  and  prominent  clubman,  had  been 
struck  down  and  killed  in  his  club  by  Wilson 
Stoddard,  former  college  man  and  noted  athlete, 
now  a  wealthy  but  convivial  man-about-town, 
who  had  fled  immediately  upon  the  consum- 
mation of  the  murder.  But  already  he  had  been 
seen  upon  the  streets  by  several  who  knew  him, 
and  the  police  were  unusually  confident  of  his 
early  capture — a  confidence  that  seemed  war- 
ranted by  reason  of  his  well-known  habitats  and 
wide  circle  of  acquaintanceship.  Mechanically 
Stoddard  threw  the  paper  aside  and  stood  at  the 
crossing  until  the  first  brunt  of  the  shock  was 
over. 

He  was  a  marked  man.  Not  in  this  or  in 
any  city,  town  or  hamlet  of  the  civilized  world 
could  he  long  remain  unknown.  His  swarms  of 


BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS  13 

college  mates  had  scattered  as  the  winds  had 
blown  them,  and  besides  them  were  the  tens  of 
thousands  of  trotters  of  the  earth  who  had 
watched  him,  conspicuous  by  reason  of  his  fame 
and  powerful  figure,  in  the  great  athletic  events 
in  the  days  when  columns  had  been  written  about 
his  most  trivial  acts.  Yet  this  great  city,  his 
home,  was  manifestly  the  unsafest  place  of  all. 
At  first  thought  flight  seemed  cowardly  even 
though  it  were  not  the  act  of  a  coward,  and  cow- 
ardice he  had  always  despised  as  having  no  place 
within  him.  Only  one  road  seemed  to  lie  before 
him.  In  a  sudden  blaze  of  unreckoning  anger 
he  had  slain  a  fellow  being;  and  though  guiltless 
of  intent  to  kill,  he  had  by  that  act  forfeited  his 
right  to  freedom  and  now  must  surrender  himself 
and  bear  his  punishment  as  best  punishment 
could  be  borne.  Knowing  that  the  road  before 
him  ran  straight  to  the  prison  gates,  and  that 
there  could  be  no  more  in  life  for  him  than  a 
felon's  thoughts  and  a  felon's  end,  he  stepped 
unfalteringly  upon  it.  With  clenched  teeth  and 
eyes  set  he  strode  straight  towards  a  policeman 
who  stood  at  the  opposite  corner. 

Half  way  there  he  became  aware  of  an  unusual 


14  BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS 

uproar  in  the  street.  Arising  above  the  grind  of 
wheels  and  the  clank  of  iron  shoes  arose  hoarse 
cries  of  "thief,  thief,"  and  "stop  him,"  and  Wilson 
glancing  towards  the  spot  from  which  the  tumult 
arose  saw  a  young  man  with  a  mottled  face  fight- 
ing desperately  for  freedom  in  the  midst  of  a 
crowd.  Hurrying  on  he  reached  the  scene  of 
the  struggle  just  as  two  detectives  fell  upon  the 
battling  one,  saw  them  twist  his  arms  into  help- 
lessness and  heard  the  sharp  click  of  the  hand- 
cuffs as  they  made  him  their  captive  and  dragged 
him  still  struggling  to  a  patrol  box  at  a  nearby 
corner.  Stoddard,  following  with  the  throng, 
awaited  the  arrival  of  the  police  wagon  and 
watched  the  victim  thrown  into  it  as  though  he 
had  been  a  man  of  rags,  hearing  from  within  the 
sound  of  savage  blows  followed  by  a  despairing 
cry  for  mercy ;  then  turned  away  with  a  shudder. 
And  this  other  criminal  whom  they  were  tortur- 
ing because  he,  true  to  the  first  instinct  of  animal 
kind,  clung  desperately  to  liberty,  was  but  a 
petty  pickpocket  whose  crime  was  the  stealing 
of  a  watch.  If  the  law  which  he  had  been  taught 
to  revere  as  calm,  as  just,  as  merciful,  treated  an 
unconvicted  miscreant  so  mercilessly  in  the  very 


BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS  15 

hearing  of  all  who  cared  to  listen,  what  then 
would  be  the  fate  of  a  murderer  once  within  the 
muffling  walls  of  a  dungeon?  Was  it  best  to 
surrender  and  be  buried  alive  after  all?  Could 
not  man  make  better  atonement  to  the  society 
that  he  had  outraged  and  do  vastly  more  for  his 
own  salvation  by  remaining  free,  doing  a  man's 
work  and  living  the  life  that  it  had  been  intended 
he  should  live  when  the  breath  of  life  had  been 
hreathed  into  him?  There  seemed  to  be  but  one 
answer  to  the  question  as  he  put  it  to  himself 
now.  Nor  was  flight  necessarily  cowardly.  He 
had  not  intended  to  kill,  he  had  merely  struck 
as  a  million  other  men  had  struck  when  driven 
to  great  anger,  and  the  only  difference  between 
their  blows  and  his  had  been  the  weight  of  an 
ounce  or  the  variation  of  a  hair.  Yet  they  had 
lived  and  died  unchallenged  by  law  or  conscience 
because  of  the  difference  of  the  ounce  or  hair, 
while  he,  no  more  guilty  than  they,  must  become 
a  convict.  Another  road  unrolled  itself  before 
him  as  his  thoughts  ran  on,  a  road  that  led  not  to 
destruction  but  to  life,  to  effort,  to  reparation, 
and  turning  his  back  upon  the  blue-coated  giant 
of  the  crossing  he  went  swiftly  away. 


16  BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS 

He  entered  a  lesser  street  which  had  been 
abandoned  to  the  under-world,  where  Chinese 
restaurants  and  cheap  clothing  stores  flying  three 
gilded  balls  were  upon  every  side,  and  entered 
one  of  the  latter  places.  From  the  counter  he 
selected  a  rough,  ill-fitting  suit  of  workingman's 
clothes  worth  a  dozen  dollars  at  the  most,  and  in 
exchange  for  them  and  a  handful  of  silver  gave 
his  own  apparel  which  had  cost  a  full  hundred. 
At  the  doorway  in  passing  out  he  nearly  collided 
with  a  care-faced  young  woman  and  drew  aside 
with  a  brief  sentence  of  apology.  She  looked 
at  him  with  the  dull,  uncomprehending  stare  of 
one  who  totally  fails  to  understand  the  meaning 
of  familiar  words  grouped  into  an  unfamiliar 
formula,  while  Stoddard,  dropping  his  eyes  to  the 
bundles  she  carried,  saw  that  it  was  a  soiled  satin 
dress,  festooned  with  cheap  lace  and  wrapped 
about  by  a  flowing  veil — her  wedding  finery 
beyond  almost  the  shadow  of  a  doubt.  The 
silver  was  still  clutched  in  his  hand,  and  acting 
upon  the  impulse  of  the  moment  he  dropped  it 
upon  the  dress  and  brushed  by  her  into  the  street. 
She  did  not  call  after  him  to  thank  him,  she 
uttered  no  word  of  recognition  of  his  charity  and 


BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS  17 

he  did  not  look  around  the  see  the  result  of  his 
hasty  almsgiving.  Money  was  the  least  of  his 
troubles.  A  quarter  of  a  million  well  invested 
stood  in  his  own  name  and  right,  and  with  the 
hope  that  the  handful  of  silver  might  spare  her 
a  heartache  he  thought  of  her  no  more. 

At  another  store  he  bought  coarse  undercloth- 
ing and  other  wearing  apparel,  cap  and  boots, 
a  cheap  "telescope"  in  which  to  carry  them,  and 
a  pair  of  spectacles.  At  a  barber  shop  he  had 
his  hair  clipped  until  nothing  remained  but  an 
outcropping  of  bristles,  but  his  face  he  ordered 
left  untouched  by  the  razor.  His  beard  was 
naturally  of  quick  and  heavy  growth,  and  he 
knew  that  a  week's  neglect  of  it  would  disfigure 
him  almost  beyond  recognition.  Next  he  took 
a  car  and  sought  a  workingmen's  hotel  hard  by  a 
great  depot  from  which  trunk  lines  radiated  like 
the  meshes  of  a  spider's  web,  and  as  nine  o'clock 
boomed  from  the  depot  belfry  he  crept  into  bed 
exhausted  of  mind  and  body,  but  cold  sober  upon 
retiring  for  the  first  time  in  a  year.  An  hour 
later  he  was  sleeping,  but  it  was  with  fitful  tos- 
sings  and  mutterings  at  the  grotesques  that 
haunted  the  land  wherein  his  mind  wandered. 


18  BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS 

When  morning  came  he  drew  on  his  rough 
clothes  and  proceeded  down  stairs.  His  face 
was  haggard  despite  his  rest,  and  his  hands  shook 
like  the  hands  of  one  who  walks  near  the  end 
of  life  instead  of  near  its  beginning.  The  crav- 
ing for  his  morning's  drink  tortured  him  keen 
as  the  water  thirst  of  a  man  whose  body  is  a 
furnace  from  fever,  but  he  passed  the  obtrusive 
bar  without  a  glance  in  its  direction  and  hastened 
to  a  restaurant  where  he  drank  several  cups  of 
black  coffee.  This  warmed  and  stimulated  him 
somewhat  and  in  a  measure  relieved  the  cravings 
of  his  stomach.  After  that  he  began  to  formu- 
late carefully  his  plans  for  the  future.  Obviously 
his  first  step  towards  continued  liberty  must  be 
to  leave  the  city  far  behind  him  and  with  that 
object  in  mind  he  secured  a  time-table  and  rail- 
road map  and  studied  them  with  great  attention 
to  detail.  From  the  time-table  he  learned  that 
the  Winnipeg  Express  would  leave  the  station 
in  about  an  hour,  but  Stoddard  feeling  certain 
that  all  departing  trains  would  be  carefully 
watched  by  detectives  dared  not  venture  the 
boarding  of  a  car  by  the  common  avenues  of  the 
public.  Remembering,  however,  that  the 


BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS  19 

Winnipeg  train  made  a  brief  stop  at  a  crossing 
about  a  mile  down  the  yards,  he  procured  his 
telescope  and  proceeded  carelessly  among  the 
labyrinth  of  tracks  to  the  point  which  he  had  in 
mind,  swung  himself  aboard  the  smoker  as  the 
train  came  to  a  halt,  and  at  the  first  suburban 
station  hurried  from  the  train  and  purchased  a 
ticket  to  the  Canadian  city  of  the  far  north. 
When'night  came  twelve  hours  later  he  was  well 
among  the  pine  woods.  Riding  but  a  few  sta- 
tions further,  he  slipped  quickly  from  the  wrong 
side  of  the  train  at  a  small  lumbering  town  out 
of  which  a  logging  spur  of  the  main  railroad  ran 
into  the  heart  of  the  pineries.  In  the  city  which 
he  had  left  behind  him  that  morning  the  air  had 
been  soft  and  the  pavements  warm  under  the 
sun,  but  here  a  light  snow  covered  the  ground 
and  the  breath  of  the  north  made  him  button  his 
coat  as  he  passed  along  the  rickety  sidewalks  of 
the  shanty  town  with  his  glance  wandering  at 
random  in  search  of  a  place  of  lodging.  Noisy 
saloons  and  smoke-filled  dance  halls  crowded 
with  uncouth  lumber  jacks  upon  their  last 
carouse  before  facing  the  deep  snows  and  bitter 
cold  of  the  mighty  woods  were  about  him  on 


20  BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS 

every  side.  Gambling  dens  with  doors  flung 
wide  invited  him  within,  and  tawdry  women  were 
at  his  elbow  nearly  constantly.  But  while  he 
passed  all  these  with  small  notice,  their  existence 
in  this  place  met  with  his  approval,  he  regarding 
them  as  safeguards  thrown  about  him.  For  of 
all  haunts  in  which  to  search  for  the  immaculate, 
the  critical  and  the  luxury-loving,  the  last  would 
be  in  the  squalid  atmosphere  of  a  backwoods 
logging  town  where  the  food  was  as  coarse  as  the 
tan  bark  upon  the  streets,  the  liquor  an  abomi- 
nation to  the  palate  and  a  decently  made  suit 
of  clothes  an  object  of  derision. 

Passing  on  to  a  portion  of  the  town  that 
seemed  either  a  trifle  less  disreputable  or  a  trifle 
more  discreet  than  the  other,  he  found  a  dingy 
hotel  bearing  the  title  of  "Lumbermen's  Rest"; 
and  registered  there  with  an  illegible  scrawl, 
after  which  he  ate  a  little  of  what  was  brought 
to  him  and  then  retired  to  his  box-like  room  deep 
in  thought.  Why  not  make  this  place  his  head- 
quarters as  well  as  some  point  further  on?  Re- 
pellant  though  his  surroundings  were,  no  place 
could  be  more  obscure  or  more  unlikely  as  his 
habitat.  Here  he  could  ostensibly,  at  least,  en- 


BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS  21 

gage  in  some  occupation  that  would  serve  to 
avert  suspicion  until  he  had  gained  sufficient  time 
to  perfect  his  plans  for  the  new  and  better  life 
that  was  to  be  his  in  the  time  to  come.  He  fav- 
ored the  idea,  but  being  clothed  in  the  garb  of  a 
city  mechanic,  his  next  step  must  be  to  again  dis- 
card his  wardrobe  in  favor  of  the  prevailing  fash- 
ion of  the  place,  that  he  might  be  less  conspicuous 
and  more  quickly  identify  himself  as  part  and 
parcel  of  the  people  about  him.  This  he  de- 
termined to  do  as  his  first  act  in  the  morning. 
After  that  he  would  make  a  search  for  some 
small  business  which  he  could  purchase  as  an  oc- 
cupation until  it  became  safer  for  him  to  leave 
for  some  remote  land.  Once  abroad  and  his 
trail  grown  cold,  hidden  beneath  another  name 
and  a  whiskers-covered  face,  he  could  enlarge 
his  scope  and  pursue  the  plan  that  was  forming 
vaguely  in  his  brain.  A  thousand  or  two  dollars 
invested  here — a  sudden  chill  swept  him  and 
hastily  drawing  all  his  money  from  his  pockets 
he  counted  it  into  a  little  pile  on  the  bed.  It 
amounted  to  less  than  twenty-five  dollars.  For 
a  second  time  black  despair  settled  upon  him  as 
with  staring  eyes  he  gazed  upon  the  few  small 


22  BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS 

bills  and  scattered  pieces  of  silver  that  lay  upon 
the  cloth.  For  with  a  hundred  thousand  dollars 
in  gilt-edge  bonds,  with  more  than  that  amount 
in  mortgages  and  interest-bearing  notes,  with  ten 
thousand  dollars  cash  in  bank,  he  was  practically 
a  pauper.  His  quarter  of  a  million  was  as  use- 
less to  him  as  though  he  were  already  in  a  prison 
cell;  as  inaccessible  as  though  buried  upon  a 
star.  Not  a  dollar  could  he  draw  from  the  bank, 
not  a  mortgage  could  he  release  or  foreclose,  not 
a  note  could  he  collect  or  discount  without  affix- 
ing his  signature  to  check,  release,  receipt  or 
power  of  attorney.  Nor  could  he  receive  a 
penny  unless  he  appeared  in  person  or  by  an 
agent  duly  authorized,  who  in  turn  must  know 
his  whereabouts  in  order  that  he  might  remit  the 
proceeds  to  him.  And  to  trust  any  man  with 
the  secret  of  his  hiding  place  was  not  to  be 
thought  of,  even  though  one  could  be  found  who 
would  consent  to  give  assistance  and  encourage- 
ment to  a  fleeing  murderer.  He  was  an  outlaw 
among  men  with  every  man's  hand  raised  against 
him — he  whose  careless  good  nature  had  been 
almost  a  proverb  among  those  who  knew  him — 
whose  heart  had  ever  been  the  friendliest  and 


BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS  23 

most  generous  towards  mankind,  and  whose  only 
fault  had  been  a  weakness  and  whose  only  sin  an 
accident. 

Almost  penniless  despite  his  fortune  and  hav- 
ing mastered  neither  trade  nor  profession  which 
he  might  now  invoke  to  earn  his  daily  bread, 
Stoddard  sank  limply  into  a  chair  and  closed  his 
eyes  in  a  great  weariness  of  soul  and  brain.  He 
slept  none  that  night.  Repentance,  remorse  and 
vain  regrets  rode  him  with  bit  and  spur. 


CHAPTER  II 

HE  breakfasted  from  dishes  which  he  scarcely 
glanced  at,  and  had  the  food  which  he  ate  been 
sawdust  from  the  streets  it  is  to  be  doubted  if 
he  would  have  taken  note  of  it.  His  head  ached 
with  dull  monotony,  and  he  gladly  left  the  table 
in  the  hope  that  the  crisp  air  of  the  morning 
might  bring  him  some  relief.  More  snow  had 
fallen  during  the  night,  and  the  wind  nipped 
him  with  a  sharp  tooth  as  he  walked  briskly  from 
street  to  street  of  the  town.  The  river  was  filled 
with  logs  moored  in  rafts,  over  which  rivermen 
in  sharp  corked  boots  leaped  or  galloped  as  they 
herded  the  logs  to  the  pull-ups  of  the  sawmills. 
The  whine  and  snarl  of  many  circular  saws  came 
to  his  ears,  and  the  damp  aroma  of  new  sawdust 
filled  his  nose.  He  must  seek  employment  at 
once  either  among  those  buzzing  teeth  or  in  the 
town,  even  though  the  wages  earned  would  but 
bring  him  board  and  lodgings,  and  turning  from 
the  river  he  scanned  the  scattered  business  places 

24 


BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS  25 

critically  as  he  took  mental  inventory  of  their 
character.  At  the  end  of  a  five  minutes'  walk 
along  the  main  street  he  struck  his  balance. 
Two  sawmills,  two  planing  mills,  twelve  saloons, 
three  dance  halls  and  gambling  rooms,  two 
general  merchandise  and  lumbermen's  outfitting 
stores,  four  alleged  hotels  and  barn-like  boarding 
places,  a  blacksmith's  shop  and  a  logging  com- 
pany's office  comprised  the  business  interests  of 
the  settlement.  It  would  have  been  hard  to  find 
a  place  less  promising  for  a  search  such  as  Stod- 
dard  was  bent  upon,  but  in  the  precariousness 
of  his  finances  he  must  exhaust  the  possibilities  of 
the  town  before  squandering  precious  money 
upon  railroad  fare  that  his  search  might  be  con- 
tinued in  other  places.  He  had  never  been  face 
to  face  with  actual  want  before.  Many  thou- 
sand dollars  had  always  intervened  between  him 
and  the  necessities  of  life,  and  like  a  tyro  who 
suddenly  finds  himself  confronted  by  a  grim 
enemy,  his  lack  of  self  confidence  caused  him 
much  apprehension  where  a  more  experienced 
warrior  would  have  smiled  and  counted  the  odds 
all  his  own.  Clerking,  driving  a  team  or  doing 
porter  work  seemed  to  be  his  best  hope,  and  he 


26  BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS 

decided  that  the  general  stores  should  be  the 
first  objects  of  his  attack.  Drawing  a  long 
breath  he  entered  the  larger  of  the  two  and  stood 
at  the  counter  as  he  waited  for  an  opportunity 
to  speak  to  one  of  the  employes. 

The  door  opened  and  a  man  came  in  carrying 
a  traveling  case  in  either  hand  which  he  deposited 
upon  the  counter,  then  leaned  carelessly  against 
a  show  case  and  began  to  whistle.  Stoddard 
glancing  at  him  from  the  corner  of  his  eyes  drop- 
ped his  face  and  stood  with  the  blood  surging 
to  his  temples  and  his  heart  thumping  wildly. 
Billy  Barton  of  all  men !  Stoddard  had  not  seen 
him  since  leaving  college  four  years  before ;  good- 
natured,  talkative,  irresponsible  Billy,  who  could 
tell  more  funny  stories  in  a  given  time  than  any 
man  in  his  class,  but  who  had  failed  so  dismally 
in  his  examinations  that  it  would  have  been 
pathetic  had  not  Billy  himself  made  the  funniest 
story  of  all  about  it.  And  here  he  was  up  in  this 
forsaken  neck  of  the  wooks  selling  cheap  tobacco 
to  the  country  trade, — Billy,  who  had  professed 
an  affinity  to  the  celestial  bodies  and  whose  am- 
bition had  been  to  become  a  great  astronomer. 
"Quite  a  tumble  from  the  stars  of  space  to 


BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS  27 

'Star'  plug  tobacco,"  thought  Wilson,  half 
pitying  his  college  mate  until  he  remembered  how 
immeasurably  greater  had  been  his  own  downfall. 
Then  sympathy  for  the  other  departed.  Billy 
at  all  events  was  making  a  decent  living;  Billy 
could  joke  his  way  through  the  world  not  caring 
who  heard  him  laugh  while  he — Stoddard  turned 
his  back  and  slunk  away  from  the  presence  of 
his  old  friend  like  a  hunted  creature. 

But  the  escape  had  been  a  narrow  one  and  the 
cold  perspiration  still  oozed  from  his  forehead 
as  he  hurried  away  with  quick  steps  of  fear 
and  Billy's  eyes  seeming  to  bore  twin  holes 
through  his  back.  Of  course  Billy  had  read  of 
the  Grayford  affair  in  the  papers,  and  had  he 
looked  fairly  at  his  college  friend  of  old  the 
chances  would  have  been  all  in  favor  of  a  recogni- 
tion. And  though  Billy  would  have  promised 
Wilson  anything  upon  earth,  the  latter  knew  one 
might  as  well  hope  to  dry  Niagara  with  a  blotter 
as  to  dam  Billy's  mouth  once  he  was  out  of  sight. 
But  the  experience  had  been  worth  the  scare. 
Obviously  he  could  not  remain  in  any  town 
however  remote ;  at  least  until  a  well-grown  beard 
and  mustache  screened  his  face.  And  it  would 


28  BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS 

be  a  matter  of  many  weeks  before  that  time  came. 
He  turned  until  his  eyes  looked  into  the  distance 
where  low  hills  were  buried  beneath  a  forest 
that  stretched  unbroken  to  the  great  fresh 
water  sea  of  the  north.  In  the  heart  of  that 
almost  primeval  wilderness  lay  safety  for 
him  if  there  was  safety  upon  earth,  and 
into  its  heart  he  must  go  with  a  dauntless  will 
and  an  earnest  arm.  Only  the  rugged,  the  tire- 
less and  the  endlessly  patient  could  endure  the 
toil  and  hardships  that  were  the  lot  of  those  men 
of  brawn  who  wrung  their  pittance  from  that 
snow-bound  wilderness.  But  Stoddard  knew 
that  once  well  broken  in,  strength  and  tireless- 
ness  would  be  his  once  more,  while  endless 
patience  must  come  to  him  who  cannot  be  other- 
wise than  endlessly  patient.  Into  those  sound- 
less woods,  therefore,  he  would  go  and  side  by 
side  with  the  carousing  ones  who  had  surrounded 
him  the  night  before  learn  to  the  ultimate  the 
bitter  lesson  of  the  transgressor. 

At  the  "Lumbermen's  Rest"  he  made 
guarded  inquiries  and  learned  that  John  Find- 
lay,  then  sitting  in  the  little  recruiting  office 
across  the  way,  was  hiring  men  for  the  woods, 


BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS  29 

and  to  that  man  he  went  without  loss  of  time. 
Findlay,  gray  of  temples,  lean  and  muscular, 
listened  to  his  plaint  as  he  might  have  listened 
to  a  parrot.  And  fearing  that  he  was  about  to 
be  summarily  rejected  at  the  close  of  his  speech, 
Wilson  lengthened  it  with  an  earnestness  that 
compounded  with  each  sentence  uttered.  Then 
when  he  felt  that  to  say  more  would  be  to  weaken 
his  cause,  he  ceased  talking  as  he  mutely  awaited 
the  other's  decision.  But  instead  of  dismissing 
the  applicant  with  a  word,  as  the  indifferent  lis- 
tening had  boded,  the  logger  now  sat  searching 
the  younger  man  with  eyes  behind  which  lay  as 
keen  a  judgment  as  to  the  intrinsic  value  of  man 
or  horse  as  could  be  found  in  all  the  diamond 
minds  of  the  pineries.  But  while  Findlay  was 
known  as  one  of  the  best  men  in  the  woods  to 
work  under,  he  was  accustomed  to  dealing  with 
bare-knuckled  men  and  handling  them  accord- 
ingly. To  the  one  before  him  now  he  made  no 
exception. 

"You  want  to  work  in  the  woods?  What  can 
you  do  when  you  get  there — besides  eat?" 

In  the  very  nature  of  things  Stoddard  had 
known  that  this  would  be  one  of  the  first  ques- 


SO  BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS 

tions  asked  him,  and  his  reply  lay  upon  the  tip 
<of  his  tongue.  "Any  unskilled  labor.  I  am 
jpretty  strong." 

The  other  man  grunted,  noting  the  pale  face 
and  white  though  powerful  hands.  "Strength 
is  a  drug  in  the  market — unless  there  is  science 
back  of  it.  If  strength  was  all  I  wanted  I  would 
buy  elephants.  Ever  work  in  the  woods?" 

"No." 

The  logger's  forehead  corrugated.  "Then 
what  the  hell  good  do  you  imagine  you  would  be 
to  me?"  Stoddard,  who  had  not  been  addressed 
with  words  and  tones  like  these  since  he  had 
passed  from  beneath  the  tyranny  of  the  college 
coach  four  years  before,  and  who  had  even  then 
resented  it,  tasted  his  gorge  as  it  arose.  Then 
realizing  that  he  was  no  longer  a  man  who  could 
resent  discourtesies,  but  was  rather  a  well-nigh 
penniless  outcast  who  must  bow  to  whomsoever 
might  choose  to  offer  him  a  meal,  whatever  the 
meal  might  consist  of,  he  bit  his  lip  and  took 
his  first  lesson  in  endless  patience. 

"I  don't  know.  Not  much  I  guess.  But  I 
can  do  hard  labor  and  I  believe  that  I  would 


BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS  31 

learn  rather  quickly.     I  need  work  badly  and 
am  willing  to  begin  at  any  living  wages." 
"Can  you  do  camp  chores?" 
"I  don't  know.     What  are  they?" 
Findlay's  mouth  expanded  and  then  froze  in 
a  crack-like  smile.     "Well,  you  get  up  at  four 
in  the  morning,  build  the  fires,  roust  the  men 
from  their  blankets,  chop  the  cook's  wood,  carry 
it  in,  bring  the  water,  sweep  the  camp,  shovel 
snow,  fill  the  lanterns,  carry  lunch,  make  the 
office  bunks,  attend  to  odd  jobs  that  come  up, 
and  the  rest  of  the  time  you  don't  have  to  do  a 
blessed  thing  but  work.     It's  the  only  soft  job 
I've  got  left.     Can  you  build  half  a  dozen  fires 
in  as  many  minutes?" 

"I  don't  know  that  either.     I  never  tried." 
"Then  you  are  like  the  man  who  didn't  know 
whether  he  could  play  second  violin  because  he 
had  never  played  the  first  one.     Of  course  you 
can't.     Handle  an  ax?" 

"Never  had  one  in  my  hands." 
The  logger  sniffed.     "Well,  I  suppose  you 
could   learn   to    swamp.     'Most   any    fool   can. 
But  you  won't  be  worth  the  salt  pork  you  will 


32  BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS 

stuff  yourself  with  for  the  first  thirty  days. 
However,  I  suppose  someone  has  got  to  break 
you  in  and  I  might  as  well  be  the  martyr.  I'll 
give  you  twenty  dollars  the  first  month,  and 
after  that  if  you  can  do  half  a  man's  work  I'll 
give  you  regular  wages — ten  dollars  more.  If 
you  can't,  I'll  give  you  your  time.  Under- 
stand?" 

"Yes,"  replied  the  applicant,  and  Findlay  pick- 
ing up  his  pen  scribbled  a  few  words  on  a  card 
which  he  handed  to  his  new  employe.  "Take 
this  to  Jim  Flint,  my  walking  boss.  He  is  at 
Camp  5.  He'll  start  you  to  work  and  see  that 
you  keep  at  it,  too.  Better  outfit  at  our  store 
at  Archer  for  we  might  as  well  get  your  money 
as  these  storekeepers  here.  You  can  get  direc- 
tions as  to  where  the  camp  is  when  you  outfit. 
Your  train  leaves  in  ten  minutes,  and  it  is  going 
to  move  just  the  same  whether  you  happen  to 
be  aboard  or  not.  Shut  the  door  behind  you 
when  you  go  out." 

With  a  brief  sentence  of  thanks  Wilson  left 
the  office  far  less  depressed  than  when  he  had 
entered  it.  Regarding  his  new  work  he  had 
not  the  slightest  idea  of  what  it  would  consist 


BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS  35 

other  than  severity,  but  at  least  it  would  be  a 
man's  work  and  would  clothe  him  and  give  him 
food  and  a  bed.  Towards  Findlay  he  felt  gen- 
uinely grateful  despite  the  other's  brusqueness, 
being  convinced  that  the  logger's  manner  was 
more  than  half  assumed,  and  his  common  sense 
told  him  that  he  had  been  employed  more  as  a 
matter  of  charity  than  for  his  actual  present 
worth.  In  spite  of  the  humiliation  of  it  he 
smiled  grimly  at  the  thought  that  he,  Wilson 
Stoddard,  college  graduate  and  quarter  of  a  mil- 
lionaire was  not  intrinsically  worth  twenty  dol- 
lars a  month  and  his  board.  But  he  soon  would 
be,  or  know  the  reason  why,  and  when  that  time 
came  he  would  see  to  it  that  John  Findlay  did 
not  regret  his  generosity.  Such  were  his 
thoughts  as  with  the  lumberman's  last  words  in 
mind  he  hurriedly  secured  his  telescope  and  ran 
for  the  depot. 

He  entered  the  rear  car  of  the  accommodation 
train  that  was  to  take  him  over  the  spur  line  to 
Archer  and  glanced  over  the  interior.  The 
"coach"  was  a  disreputable,  half  worn-out  box 
car  which  had  been  discarded  as  not  good  enough 
for  live  stock,  and  which  had,  therefore,  been 


84,  BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS 

dedicated  to  the  American  traveling  public  at 
four  cents  a  mile.  Half  a  dozen  small  windows 
scarcely  larger  than  peek  holes  had  been  cut  in 
the  sides  and  fitted  with  immovable  frames,  and 
a  score  of  board  seats  now  polished  to  smooth- 
ness— not  by  hands — afforded  the  seating  facili- 
ties. Upon  these  sat  three  or  four  women  of 
the  woods,  thin,  wiry  and  poorly  dressed,  one 
nursing  a  child  that  ceased  drinking  but  to  squall, 
and  ceased  to  squall  only  that  it  might  drink. 
Stoddard  passing  through  the  wretched  vehicle 
took  his  seat  in  the  next  car  forward  which  had 
been  consecrated  to  the  users  of  tobacco.  It 
was  the  counterpart  of  the  passenger  coach,  the 
only  difference  being  in  the  inexpressible  volume 
of  its  nicotine  filth.  The  air  was  thick  as  por- 
ridge from  the  foul  odor  of  tobacco  smoke  dead 
and  alive,  while  from  nearly  every  seat  ran  brown 
rivulets  that  sluggishly  merged  with  the  main 
channel  of  the  stream  that  pursued  its  way 
through  the  center  of  the  main  aisle.  A  dozen 
woodsmen  of  half  that  many  different  national- 
ities were  lolling  in  uncouth  attitudes  upon  the 
seats,  talking  boisterously  to  the  almost  inces- 
sent  gurgle  of  a  jointly  owned  stone  jug.  To 


BARBARA  OF   THE  SNOWS  35 

Wilson's  immaculate  physical  instincts  the  place 
was  revolting  in  the  extreme,  and  for  an  instant 
he  hesitated  upon  the  verge  of  retreat  to  the 
cleaner  car  behind.  But  a  squall  muffled  by 
distance  decided  him,  and  with  the  resolution 
to  accustom  himself  as  speedily  as  possible  to 
these  men  who  were  to  be  physically  closer  to 
him  than  brothers,  he  swallowed  his  disgust  and 
selecting  the  least  objectionable  vacant  seat 
threw  himself  upon  it.  With  a  blow  that  hurled 
the  inmates  of  the  train  against  the  seats  in  front 
of  them,  the  backing  engine  smote  the  front  end 
of  the  car  and  coupled  to  it.  Then  with  bronco 
leaps  and  spasmodic  buckings  it  jerked  the  train 
intermittently  into  the  north. 

To  Stoddard  the  three  ensuing  hours  were 
among  the  most  wearisome  of  his  life.  At  every 
station  more  lumbermen  boarded  the  train,  and 
with  each  batch  of  new  arrivals  the  smoke  cloud 
grew  more  intolerable,  the  air  more  humid  and 
unbreathable  and  the  brown  channel  of  the  aisle 
more  fathomless.  The  conductor  navigated  it 
stoically.  "Looks  like  the  Copperas  at  flood," 
he  said  naively  as  he  gathered  the  fares.  The 
Copperas  was  a  licorice  river  that  ran  through 


36  BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS 

the  mineral  belt  and  the  comparison  was  not 
inapt.  The  oaths  that  were  born  with  the  pass- 
ing miles  were  beyond  repetition  and  in  some 
cases  almost  beyond  belief,  while  the  intervals 
between  them  were  interspersed  with  scufflings 
as  gentle  as  the  frolics  of  steers.  Across  the 
aisle  from  Stoddard  a  friendly  pair  twisted  each 
other's  arms  until  the  muscles  cracked  as  they 
tested  their  respective  grips.  Behind  him  a  huge 
Canadian  sat  upon  a  lesser  companion's  head, 
singing  uproariously  to  drown  the  cries  of  the 
one  beneath  as  he  beat  him  with  an  empty  flask 
in  accompaniment  to  his  song.  Before  him 
lounged  a  burly  fellow  with  cue  end  of  a  taut 
rubber  band  between  his  teeth  and  the  other  be- 
tween his  fingers ;  strumming  upon  it  by  the  hour 
as  vacuous  of  thought  as  a  puppy  chewing  a 
stick — the  mind  of  a  child  in  the  body  of  a  Her- 
cules. To  Stoddard's  relief  they  ignored  his 
presence  absolutely;  yet  it  was  with  satisfaction 
that  at  the  end  of  the  third  hour  he  stepped  from 
the  train  at  Archer  and  cast  his  first  glance  over 
the  hamlet.  Before  him  stood  the  company 
store  and  office,  a  sawmill,  two  long  log  buildings 
where  the  mill  employes  ate  and  slept,  a  private 


BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS  87 

log  cottage  or  two,  a  stable  and  nothing  more, 
while  close  about  it  hovered  the  green  ranks  of 
the  unbroken  forest.  Picking  up  his  telescope 
the  traveler  entered  the  little  store. 

A  young  woman  about  twenty  years  of  age 
stood  behind  the  counter,  and  as  Wilson  first 
saw  her  he  made  an  involuntary  movement  as 
if  about  to  pause,  then  continued  his  advance 
with  much  the  same  sensations  as  though  he  had, 
in  tramping  through  the  brush  and  deadfalls  of 
this  sombre  woodland,  suddenly  chanced  upon  a 
flower  of  exquisite  loveliness  and  fragrance  full- 
blown amidst  the  snows.  Composite  beauty  was 
hers,  combining  the  fair  soft  skin  of  the  northern 
races  with  the  dark  masses  of  wavy  hair  and  un- 
fathomable eyes  of  a  beauty  of  the  far  south. 
Yet  Barbara  Findlay,  despite  the  blended  types, 
was  as  purely  American  as  himself,  who  traced 
his  Yankee  ancestors  back  through  the  mists  of 
five  generations.  Of  medium  height  and  more 
slenderly  made  than  otherwise,  yet  without  the 
slightest  suggestion  of  thinness,  she  looked  at 
him  with  the  quiet  poise  of  a  well-bred  woman  of 
the  cities  as  he  dropped  his  luggage  and  faced 
her  from  across  the  narrow  counter.  She  did  not 


38  BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS 

ask  him  what  he  wished  as  a  saleswoman  would 
have  done,  and  Stoddard  after  a  minute's  pause 
to  ascertain  if  she  was  the  one  who  was  to 
wait  upon  him,  finding  her  still  silent,  addressed 
her. 

"I  wish  to  get  a  lumberman's  outfit.  Perhaps 
you  can  tell  me  if  this  is  the  right  place,"  he 
said,  and  paused.  She  swept  him  up  and  down 
with  a  quick  glance  that  contained  perhaps  a 
bit  of  surprise  at  hearing  a  voice  so  well  modu- 
lated coming  from  one  who  dressed  as  a  laborer, 
then  averted  her  face  slightly  as  she  answered 
him. 

"Mr.  Ford,  the  storekeeper,  will  be  back  in  a 
moment  and  will  wait  upon  you.  I  am  waiting 
for  him  also."  Stoddard,  retired  a  pace  and 
half  seating  himself  upon  the  head  of  a  barrel, 
could  now  note  her  profile  unobserved.  It  was 
regular,  yet  softened  by  rounded  lips,  and  was 
possessed  of  a  chin  that  bespoke  courage  and 
determination  to  the  full;  yet  without  even  the 
hint  of  obstinacy.  And  stamped  upon  each  out- 
line was  the  imprint  of  a  pride  that  one  might 
easily  offend,  combined  with  a  self  reliance  that 
would  hesitate  long  before  asking  favors — all 


BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS  39 

modified  again  by  an  almost  imperceptible  upturn 
of  the  corners  of  the  mouth  as  if  a  smile  slept  so 
lightly  there  that  it  needed  but  a  trifling  thing  to 
awaken  it  into  a  laugh.  So  much  he  observed 
before  Ford  entered  with  loud  stampings  to  free 
his  feet  of  the  snow  and  demanded  what  he 
wished. 

"Everything  that  I  will  need  during  a  winter 
in  the  woods  from  cap  to  boots,"  was  the  reply, 
and  one  by  one  the  storekeeper  dragged  the  ar- 
ticles forth  from  box  and  shelf  and  spread  them 
upon  the  counter.  Three  suits  of  the  heaviest, 
warmest,  mixed  woolen  underwear;  half  a  dozen 
pairs  of  socks  as  thick  as  a  thin  board;  stout 
trousers  that  reached  below  the  knees  but  fell 
short  of  the  tops  of  laced  waterproof  boots; 
rubbers  of  pure  gum;  checkered  flannel  shirts 
and  mackinaw;  woodsman's  cap  and  woodsman's 
mittens — all  confronted  him  upon  the  counter 
in  a  bulky  pile.  The  girl  disinterestedly  watched 
proceedings  from  the  top  of  the  tall  office  stool 
where  she  had  climbed  as  though  seeking  safety 
from  the  deluge  of  the  shelves. 

Wilson  paid  his  bill  and  rattled  what  was  left 
of  his  fortune  in  the  corner  of  his  pocket.  It 


'40  BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS 

amounted  to  less  than  a  dollar,  but  there  would 
be  no  necessity,  barring  the  unforeseeable,  for 
him  to  spend  money  during  the  long  winter  now 
close  at  hand.  And  at  the  end  of  five  months' 
work  and  saving  he  should  be  able  to  emerge 
from  the  woods  with  nearly  one  hundred  and 
fifty  dollars  in  his  pocket — a  sum  just  about 
equivalent  to  what  he  had  been  accustomed  to 
spend  weekly  in  times  gone  by.  A  few  days 
back  the  thought  of  facing  a  prospect  as  drear 
as  this  would  have  been  almost  unbearable,  but 
with  the  inevitable  before  him  Stoddard  thrice 
blessed  his  lucky  stars  that  work  which  would 
bring  him  an  honest  livelihood  awaited  his  un- 
trained hands.  One  thought  of  Grayford 
and  all  self-commiseration  instantly  vanished. 
Buried  in  reflections  such  as  these  he  stood  mo- 
tionless by  the  stove,  his  eyes  fastened  upon  the 
window,  past  which  great  snowflakes  were  eddy- 
ing like  down  plucked  from  beneath  the  wings  of 
a  waterfowl. 

The  girl  slipped  easily  from  her  perch  upon 
the  stool  to  gather  up  two  bulky  packages  of 
groceries  which  the  clerk  had  just  finished  wrap- 
ping up  for  her,  and  taking  one  in  each  hand 


BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS  41 

she  left  the  store  with  a  farewell  nod  to  Ford 
but  without  having  glanced  at  Stoddard  since 
the  completion  of  his  purchases.  Aroused  from 
his  revery  by  her  brisk  departure  he  looked  after 
her  through  the  pane.  A  hill,  steep  and  heavily 
blanketed  with  snow  arose  before  her,  acces- 
sible only  by  an  almost  untrampled  trail  that 
led  to  a  well-built  log  cottage  near  the  summit. 
Stoddard,  idly  watching  her  break  her  way 
through  snow  that  came  half  way  to  her  knees, 
saw  her  trip  upon  her  skirt,  and  losing  her  bal- 
ance by  reason  of  her  unwieldy  packages,  sit 
down  upon  one  of  them  with  much  suddenness. 
The  distance  was  short  between  her  and  the 
store,  and  as  she  scrambled  to  her  feet  and  looked 
at  the  paper  sack  upon  which  she  had  sat,  the 
ruefulness  of  her  face  forced  a  smile  to  the  lips 
of  the  watcher.  Plainly  she  was  in  mild  dis- 
tress, and  without  the  slightest  hesitation  he 
opened  the  door,  passed  quickly  to  her  side  and 
picked  up  the  bag  that  had  been  beneath  her. 
A  thick  white  and  yellowish  ooze  was  straining 
from  the  bottom  of  it,  and  at  this  sight  of  the 
wreckage  she  had  caused  the  girl's  frown  van- 
ished and  her  laugh  awoke;  the  laugh  that  had 


42  BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS 

seemed  to  sleep  so  lightly  on  her  lips  and  which 
the  man  had  thought  he  would  like  to  hear. 

"I  shall  never  sit  on  eggs  again.  I  am  not  a 
success,"  she  said.  "And  only  think!  They 
are  forty  cents  a  dozen." 

He  shook  his  head  gravely,  duly  impressed 
with  the  seriousness  of  the  situation  as  with  a 
handful  of  snow  he  sought  to  stay  the  sticky 
flow  and  cleanse  the  bottom  of  the  bag,  while 
she,  shaking  her  skirts  and  gathering  them  about 
her  shoe  tops  prepared  to  continue  the  ascent. 
Stoddard  peered  cautiously  into  the  bag. 
"Twenty  cents  gone — there  are  only  six  left. 
Shall  I  run  back  to  the  store  and  get  you  an- 
other nestful?"  She  looked  at  him  with  a  faint 
smile. 

"No.  I  am  alone  to-night  and  I  think  half 
a  dozen  should  be  sufficient.  You  see  the  other 
six  were  for  daddy  whom  I  expected  to  come 
to-day,  but  who  disappointed  me."  She  held 
out  her  hand  for  the  package,  but  Stoddard, 
stepping  past  her,  had  secured  the  other  burden 
from  the  snow  before  she  realized  his  intentions 
and  was  going  double  laden  up  the  hill. 

"You  will  have  your  hands  full  in  attending 


BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS  48 

to  your  skirts.  Step  in  my  tracks — plenty  of 
room  in  them,"  he  advised  over  his  shoulder. 
Finding  herself  being  left  behind  she  did  as  he 
had  suggested,  yet  not  without  protesting  to  his 
broad  back  that  she  neither  wished  nor  needed 
assistance.  But  he  plowed  steadily  on  without 
heeding  her  in  the  least,  dragging  his  feet  and 
clearing  the  way  as  best  he  could  until  they  stood 
together  upon  the  veranda  at  the  door.  Her 
cheeks  were  flushed  from  the  sharp  climb,  her 
lips  slightly  parted  and  between  their  red  rims 
he  caught  a  glimpse  of  the  tips  of  white  teeth 
back  of  them.  She  opened  the  cottage  door  and 
his  glance  rested  momentarily  upon  a  corner  of 
the  interior.  The  floor  was  of  polished  pine  al- 
most as  white  as  the  snow  without,  and  beneath 
a  broad  mantle  upon  which  reposed  bric-a-brac 
cunningly  made  from  fungus  and  birch  bark  a 
fireplace  was  ablaze  with  snapping  logs.  Before 
it  a  huge  rocking  chair  made  from  fantastically 
twisted  natural  wood  stood  upon  a  magnificent 
wolf  skin,  and  above  it  were  crossed  snowshoes 
and  the  perfect  antlers  of  a  buck  with  a  gun 
hung  across  them.  Stoddard,  observing  these 
things  in  the  flash  of  an  eye,  thought  that  he  had 


44.  BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS 

never  seen  a  corner  more  inviting  and  reposeful 
than  this  nook  in  the  great  logs  and  would  gladly 
have  seen  more  of  it;  but  the  girl  step- 
ping upon  the  sill  held  out  her  hands  for  the 
packages  and  he  gave  them  to  her  with  a  small 
bow  and  the  suggestion  of  a  smile. 

"I  thank  you  very  much.  It  was  thoughtful 
of  you  to  break  the  way  for  me,"  she  said  with 
evident  sincerity  back  of  the  lightness  of  her  tone 
and  manner.  He  removed  his  cap  and  stepped 
back  and  their  eyes  fairly  met  once  more  for 
a  fleeting  instant.  Then  the  door  closed  and 
he  went  hurrying  down  the  trail.  Back  at  the 
store  he  beat  the  snow  from  his  feet  and  going 
to  the  small  scarred  mirror  that  hung  against 
the  wall  looked  into  it.  A  spectacled,  close- 
clipped,  bristle-bearded  operatic  villain  stared  at 
him  from  the  glass  like  the  caricature  of  a  well- 
known  face,  scarcely  recognizable  in  its  metamor- 
phosis. Even  his  tall,  well-built  figure  was 
smothered  in  the  flapping  folds  of  the  ill-fitting 
garments,  and  he  scowled  back  at  the  now  scowl- 
ing villain  of  the  mirror  with  deep  disfavor.  His 
purpose  had  been  to  make  himself  look  as  unlike 
himself  as  possible,  and  that  he  had  succeeded 


BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS  45 

so  well  should  have  been  a  matter  of  self -con- 
gratulation; yet  he  could  not  help  but  wish  that 
she  had  seen  him  as  he  had  been  a  year  before. 
With  a  sigh  of  regret  he  turned  to  his  purchases 
and  began  straightening  them  out  preparatory 
to  getting  into  them,  telling  himself  that  his  looks 
were  even  comelier  than  he  would  have  had  them. 
For  were  he  as  hideous  as  a  gargoyle,  the  face  of 
a  totem  pole  or  a  Burmese  god,  why  not  all  the 
better? 

What  mattered  it? 


CHAPTER  III 

HE  changed  the  workingman's  suit  for  his 
woodsman's  garb  and  felt  the  better  for  it.  It 
fitted  him  somewhat  closely,  yet  gave  him  plenty 
of  freedom  of  movement  and  harmonized  far 
better  with  his  surroundings  than  had  the  gar- 
ments just  discarded.  And  although  he  was 
practically  unconscious  of  the  fact,  it  became 
him  immensely.  He  was  tall  and  erect,  and 
though  somewhat  wasted  from  late  hours  and 
lack  of  muscle-building  nourishment,  the  natural 
color  of  health  had  already  begun  to  return  to 
his  face  and  his  eyeballs  were  clear  white  once 
more.  With  each  deep  breath  from  the  pines 
he  felt  the  returning  surge  of  his  old  strength, 
and  the  bare  thought  of  the  life  he  had  so  long 
lived  filled  him  with  a  loathing  inexpressible. 
But  he  knew  that  while  the  great  battle  against 
his  enemy  had  been  won  for  all  time,  there  would 
be  skirmishes  still  to  be  fought.  The  shock  of 
that  hideous  day  was  still  upon  him  with  almost 

46 


BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS  47 

sickening  force,  but  in  the  months  to  come  there 
would  be  many  a  night  when  he  would  lie  sleep- 
less through  the  long  hours  and  when  the  temp- 
tation would  come  to  him  to  arise,  and  for  the 
time  being  at  least,  seek  forgetfulness  in  the  em- 
brace of  a  foe  that  lulls  as  it  destroys.  He  had 
no  fear  that  he  would  yield,  yet  his  guard  must 
be  ever  up  and  his  front  the  sternest  and  most 
uncompromising. 

He  left  his  cast-off  clothing  and  telescope  in 
the  care  of  the  storekeeper,  swung  his  blanket 
roll  across  his  back,  and  securing  minute  di- 
rections as  to  the  location  of  Camp  5,  eight  miles 
distant,  set  out  for  it.  The  big  eddying  flakes 
had  blurred  the  trail,  and  he  trod  its  dim  out- 
lines with  the  alertness  and  caution  of  one  who 
for  the  first  time  finds  himself  dependent  upon 
his  own  resources  amidst  unfamiliar  surround- 
ings. Pine,  tamarack,  cedar,  hemlock,  birch, 
fir  and  hardwoods  hemmed  him  about,  silently 
mysterious,  seeming  to  close  in  behind  and  be- 
fore him  in  a  solid  wall  yet  parting  narrowly 
to  let  him  pass  as  he  strode  against  them  along 
the  shallow  trough  of  the  winding  trail.  Save 
for  the  soft  crunch  of  his  feet  in  the  snow  the 


48  BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS 

silence  was  absolute;  save  for  himself  it  was  a 
lifeless  solitude,  vast,  depressing,  bearing  down 
upon  him  like  a  great  soft  weight  as  though  he 
were  being  smothered  by  tons  of  feathers. 
Never  before  had  he  felt  such  inexpressible  home- 
sickness ;  never  before  such  a  hunger  for  the  com- 
panionship and  sympathy  of  some  one  who  could 
understand.  Yet  he  well  knew  he  was  only  upon 
the  threshold  of  an  existence  which  must  ever  be 
in  lonely  places  and  among  those  whom  he  could 
never  call  heart  comrades  even  though  one 
blanket  might  cover  both.  Grimly  he  fought 
away  the  almost  maddening  soul  sickness  and 
trudged  stolidly  on. 

For  three  hours  he  scrambled  up  ridges  and 
wound  his  way  among  gloomy  cypress  swamps, 
then  from  the  top  of  a  hill  looked  down  through 
the  gathering  dusk  upon  a  camp  in  the  clearing 
below.  It  was  a  new  sight  to  his  eyes  and  he 
paused  to  survey  the  structures.  All  were  of 
ponderous  logs,  squat  and  formidable  looking, 
the  longest  building  being  disjoined  in  the  middle 
by  a  roofed-over  passageway.  This  structure 
he  correctly  guessed  was  used  one  half  as  a  bunk- 
house  for  the  men  and  the  remaining  portion  as 


49 

the  eating  room  and  kitchen.  Gathered  about 
this  central  building  and  separated  from  it  by 
varying  distances  were  the  stables,  a  small 
"office,"  and  a  blacksmith  shop,  all  built  in  the 
same  manner,  all  low  and  uncouth.  Descending 
the  hill  he  went  straight  to  the  office,  threw  the 
door  open  and  inquired  for  the  walking  boss  as 
he  dropped  his  pack  to  the  floor. 

A  tall,  sinewy  man  arose  from  a  bench  saying 
that  his  name  was  Flint  and  demanding  the  new- 
comer's business,  and  Stoddard  as  his  reply 
handed  him  the  card  upon  which  Findlay  had 
scribbled  the  hieroglyphics.  Quickly  the  walk- 
ing boss  read  the  lines  and  turned  from  them  to 
the  one  who  had  brought  them.  "So  you  are 
a  green  road  monkey,  are  you?"  he  demanded 
with  a  woodsman's  disrespect  for  all  tenderfeet. 
Stoddard,  not  quite  certain  whether  he  was  or 
not,  nevertheless  assented. 

"Rank  greenhorn?"  Again  the  applicant  ac- 
quiesced silently. 

"What's  your  name?" 

"Wilson." 

Flint  threw  down  the  card.  "Then,  Wilson, 
jog  along  behind  me  with  your  pack.  Just  like 


50  BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS 

the  old  man  to  begin  shoving  tenderfeet  on  me 
when  good  men  are  begging  for  jobs,"  he  grum- 
bled. Rapidly  he  led  his  charge  to  the  men's 
quarters  in  the  bunkhouse  and  threw  the  door 
wide.  The  interior  was  about  fifty  feet  long  by 
half  as  wide,  flanked  by  a  double  row  of  wooden, 
box-like  bunks  in  front  of  which  ran  the  long 
benches  or  "deacon  seats"  of  all  camps.  A  huge 
heater  stood  in  the  center  of  the  place,  from 
which  ran  stout  cords  to  the  bunks  and  over 
which  were  thrown  the  unused  clothing  of  the 
absent  inmates.  The  air  of  the  room  was  humid 
and  strong  with  the  smell  of  drying  garments 
and  stale  tobacco  smoke.  Flint  turned  upon  his 
follower. 

"That  is  your  bunk  next  to  the  door.  Throw 
your  pack  on  it.  It  is  too  late  to  do  anything 
to-night,  but  don't  be  afraid  that  I  won't  start 
you  early  enough  in  the  morning.  And  I'll 
make  you  a  wager  that  to-morrow  night  you'll 
be  the  tiredest  blue  jay  that  Findlay  ever  sent  me 
to  turn  into  a  woodpecker.  So  get  a  good 
night's  sleep  and  to  the  devil  with  you."  He 
slammed  the  door  and  stalked  back  to  the  office, 
and  Wilson  seating  himself  upon  a  bench  awaited 


BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS  51 

whatever  might  befall  him  with  the  dull  indiffer- 
ence of  helplessness. 

The  gloom  without  thickened  and  the  lights 
from  the  cook's  shanty  flickered  pale  across  the 
snow.  From  out  of  the  woods  came  scattered 
groups  of  snowy  men,  axes,  saws  and  cant-hooks 
upon  their  shoulders,  closely  followed  by  heavy 
horses  dragging  log  chains  that  clanked  behind 
their  heels.  Boisterously  the  men  entered  the 
room  with  stampings  and  soundings,  slaps  of  their 
mittens  against  their  thighs,  and  then  having 
thrown  caps  and  hand  coverings  aside  they 
soused  their  faces  noisily  in  the  water  of  the  cor- 
ner sink.  From  the  passageway  the  cook's  horn 
sounded  its  sharp  command,  and  rapidly  the  men 
passed  into  the  adjoining  building  and  ranged 
themselves  on  long  benches  that  ran  beside  the 
oilcloth-covered  tables.  Wilson  following  them 
took  his  place  before  the  last  unoccupied  tin  plate 
and  ran  his  eyes  over  tables  and  room.  Seventy 
men  were  already  working  with  the  energy  of 
stokers  as  they  shoveled  huge  quantities  of  food 
from  the  plates.  For  an  instant  aversion  was 
strong  upon  him  as  he  witnessed  the  ferocious 
assault  of  the  hungry  scores  upon  the  hillocks 


52  BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS 

of  food  that  confronted  them,  and  had  he  not 
known  that  three  times  a  day  he  must  find  him- 
self where  he  now  sat  he  would  have  made  but 
faint  pretense  of  eating.  But  looking  at  the 
tables  again  and  more  critically,  much  of  his  re- 
pugnance vanished.  The  steaming  pots  and 
pans  gave  forth  the  odor  of  wholesome  food  well 
cooked,  the  floor  and  table  oilcloth  were  clean, 
and  the  cook  pacing  up  and  down  the  aisle  with 
a  huge  iron  ladle  over  his  shoulder  was  neatly 
aproned  and  not  at  all  repellent.  And  knowing 
that  he  must  strongly  fortify  his  physical  being 
against  the  cold  and  work  of  the  morrow,  Wilson 
made  a  quick  inventory  of  what  was  before  him. 
Skirmishing  rows  of  tea  and  coffee  with  con- 
densed milk  close  at  hand  and  sugar  and  molas- 
ses backing  them.  Advance  guards  of  hash, 
boiled  rice,  thickly  sliced  bread  and  hillocks  of 
pallid  butterine.  Solid  ranks  of  sausage,  fresh 
raw  pork  cut  in  slabs,  stewed  venison  and  mashed 
potatoes  supported  by  flanking  forces  of  pies, 
cookies,  doughnuts  and  puddings — all  within 
reach  of  hand  or  spearing  distance  of  fork, — 
and  a  shallow  tin  plate  and  a  cup  before  each 
man  from  which  to  eat  of  it  all.  Tentatively  he 


BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS  53 

filled  his  plate  from  the  most  attractive  looking 
of  the  dishes  in  the  common  pile,  a  little  sausage, 
a  piece  of  venison,  bread,  butterine,  pie  and  tea, 
and  began  to  eat.  The  sausage  was  strong  and 
unpleasant  to  the  taste,  the  venison  as  good  as 
he  had  ever  tasted  in  the  high  priced  chop  houses 
of  the  cities,  the  bread  heavy  but  wholesome  and 
much  more  palatable  without  the  strenuous  but- 
terine. The  pie,  to  his  agreeable  surprise,  was 
excellent  and  the  tea  both  hot  and  weak.  Much 
encouraged  by  the  result  of  his  samplings,  he 
was  just  beginning  to  feed  with  a  heartiness  that 
the  moment  before  he  would  not  have  believed 
possible  when  the  man  across  the  table  from  him 
dropped  knife  and  fork  and  with  a  swift  move- 
ment of  his  sleeve  across  his  face  swung  his  feet 
over  the  bench,  arose  and  left  the  room.  A 
dozen  others  were  upon  his  heels  before  the  door 
had  swung  behind  him,  and  at  the  expiration  of 
another  minute  the  tables  were  deserted  save  for 
Wilson  who  sat  in  lone  astonishment  amidst  the 
debris  of  the  vanquished  meal.  Already  the 
cook  and  cookee  were  falling  upon  the  empty 
plates  and  bearing  them  away  in  huge  dishpans 
as  they  darted  quick  glances  of  disapproval  at 


54  BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS 

the  new  man  who  had  scarcely  a  dozen  mouth- 
fuls  to  his  stomach's  credit.  But  one  exchange 
of  words  had  taken  place  among  the  seventy 
feeders  during  the  progress  of  the  meal  and  that 
had  occurred  in  the  twinkling  of  an  eye.  A  man 
at  the  table  next  to  Wilson  had  asked  the  one 
at  his  elbow  to  pass  him  the  meat  and  potatoes. 
Like  a  shot  the  answer  had  come : 

"Never  mind  the  meat  and  potatoes.  Shut 
your  mouth  and  go  on  with  your  eating." 

Realizing  that  he  was  violating  camp  etiquette 
by  the  slowness  of  his  dining  and  hoping  to  ap- 
pease the  cook's  evident  impatience  by  a  con- 
ciliatory sentence  the  lone  eater  uttered  it,  couch- 
ing the  phrase  in  the  words  of  an  explanatory 
apology.  With  the  whirl  of  a  dervish  the  auto- 
crat of  the  kitchen  spun  upon  him. 

"What  do  you  think  this  is — a con- 
versational parlor?"  he  roared.  "Don't  you 
suppose  that  I  and  this  jabbering  Canuck  cookee 
have  enough  to  do  between  four  o'clock  in  the 
morning  and  nine  at  night  to  cook  forty  kinds 
of  grub  four  times  a  day  for  seventy  pot-bellied 
cannibals  without  waiting  for  them  to  chew  the 
rag  at  the  table  instead  of  chewing  the  grub? 


BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS  55 

Eat  and  get  out  of  here  as  quick  as  the  Lord 
will  let  you  and  give  me  them  table  tools."  The 
cyclonic  rush  of  the  cook's  words  swept  Wilson's 
voice  away,  and  for  the  first  time  realizing 
the  enormity  of  the  other's  daily  duties  he  bolted 
a  few  more  mouthfuls,  gulped  down  his  tea  and 
left  the  shanty  for  the  deacon  bench  among  his 
fellows  in  the  bunkhouse. 

They  looked  at  him  with  mingled  curiosity  and 
distrust,  seeming  to  endeavor  to  sniff  his  atmos- 
phere as  beasts  do  the  atmosphere  of  unfamiliar 
beasts,  then  studiously  ignored  him.  Gradually 
the  conversation  resumed  its  wonted  swing,  of 
the  day's  cut,  the  hang  of  axes,  the  best  drag 
teeth  of  saws  and  the  multitudinous  small  inci- 
dents of  the  day,  until  as  nine  o'clock  came  they 
slipped  out  of  their  outer  garments  and  crawled 
beneath  the  blankets.  Wilson  quickly  followed 
suit,  and  wearied  by  his  long  day  and  tramp 
through  the  snow  was  soon  wrapped  in  sound 
slumber. 

Darkness  thick  as  midnight  still  enveloped  the 
camp  when  the  chore  boy  thrusting  his  head 
within  the  door  of  the  bunkhouse  voiced  his  long 
morning  call.  Befuddled  with  sleep  Wilson  sat 


56  BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS 

upright  in  his  bunk  and  watched  his  companions 
as  they  climbed  into  their  clothes,  wondering 
drowsily  what  meant  this  commotion  in  the  midst 
of  the  darkness.  The  yellow  rays  of  the  night 
lamp  fell  upon  an  alarm  clock  and  he  saw  that 
the  hands  pointed  to  half  past  four.  Then 
realizing  that  this  was  the  beginning  of  the  day's 
labor  he  dropped  to  the  floor  and  dressed  with  a 
rush  as  the  cold  night  air  set  his  teeth  to  chat- 
tering. And  profiting  by  his  experience  of  the 
previous  night  he  managed  through  the  ignoring 
of  mastication  to  half  fill  his  stomach  with  solids 
and  steaming  coffee  before  the  tables  were  de- 
serted by  the  lightning- jawed  feeders  about  him. 
Then  going  without  the  building  he  stomped  up 
and  down  to  stir  his  blood  to  faster  coursings 
as  he  watched  the  men  and  horses  vanish  into  the 
black  woods.  Fifteen  miutes  later  Flint  ap- 
proached him  with  a  double-bladed  ax  swung 
across  his  broad  shoulder. 

"Here's  your  tool.  Come  along  with  me,"  he 
commanded  as  he  strode  by.  Glad  that  ac- 
tivities were  about  to  begin  Wilson  followed 
his  leader  into  the  woods  and  along  a  roughly 
broken  tote  road.  From  about  him  rising 


BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS  57 

sharply  in  the  still  air  he  heard  the  whine  of  saws, 
the  clank  of  dragging  chains  and  the  cries  of 
teamsters  as  they  urged  their  straining  horses  to 
still  greater  efforts.  From  somewhere  close  at 
hand  arose  a  quick  warning  shout  that  pierced 
the  air  like  a  vocal  dagger,  followed  by  the  tre- 
mendous creaking  and  groaning  of  stout  fibers 
torn  apart.  Then  close  upon  the  creaking  came 
the  roar  of  a  great  tree  as  it  thundered  through 
the  boughs  of  its  lesser  companions,  stripping 
and  felling  them  as  by  a  thunderbolt.  Out  of 
the  lessening  gloom  across  the  road  two  horses 
came,  tugging  behind  them  a  low  pair  of  runners 
upon  which  was  chained  one  end  of  a  log,  the 
other  end  dragging  in  the  snow.  The  walking 
boss  paused  to  point  at  it. 

"That  is  what  we  call  skidding.  When  a  tree 
is  felled  it  is  sawed  into  different  lengths,  de- 
pending on  how  many  logs  we  can  get  out  of 
the  trunk  without  waste.  Then  it  is  trimmed 
free  of  limbs  and  hauled  on  the  skids  to  its 
proper  pile  for  loading  on  sleds  or  being  driven 
down  the  river  when  the  break-up  comes.  A 
skidding  crew  is  made  up  of  two  horses,  a 
teamster,  a  log  chainer,  two  sawyers  and  a  swam- 


58  BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS 

per  or  road  monkey.  We  have  six  skidding 
crews  in  this  camp  and  you  are  the  road  monkey 
of  number  four.  Now  remember  that  and  come 
on  while  you  are  remembering  it." 

They  descended  a  hill  and  entered  a  swamp 
where  the  drifted  snow  lay  thigh  deep  away  from 
the  trail.  Working  like  beavers  amongst  the 
cedars  were  two  great  bearded  Norwegians,  and 
Flint  jerking  a  hurried  order  over  his  shoulder 
for  his  follower  to  remain  where  he  was,  broke 
his  way  to  the  side  of  the  pair  and  ran  his  eyes 
over  the  cut  of  the  day  before  with  quick 
measuring  of  butts  and  tops  and  sharp  criticisms. 
"You  are  cutting  stuff  that  is  too  small  and  you 
ought  to  be  able  to  see  it  with  a  glass  eye.  That 
pole  you  just  sawed  wouldn't  make  a  lead  pencil 
big  enough  to  write  out  your  time  with.  Let 
that  tree  alone.  It's  as  hollow  as  your  fool  heads 
and  ain't  fit  for  shingle  blocks.  See  that  one 
there!  Get  after  it  next  while  I  blaze  a  few  to 
show  you  Scandihoovians  what  kind  of  stuff  we 
want."  He  jerked  an  ax  out  of  a  log  and  van- 
ished into  the  swamp,  the  "chuck"  of  his  falling 
blade  closely  following  his  disappearance. 

Athlete  though  he  had  been  and  close  observer 


BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS  59 

of  the  feats  of  college  strong  men,  Wilson,  never- 
theless, was  rooted  to  the  spot  by  a  feeling  that 
was  almost  awe  as  he  saw  the  prowess  of  the  two 
blond-bearded  sons  of  the  vikings.  Logs  thirty 
feet  long  and  which  would  have  been  a  fair 
burden  for  a  horse  they  raised  by  one  end  to  the 
shoulder,  worked  their  way  under  them  to  the 
center,  balanced  them  and  bore  them  away  un- 
faltering. Poles  that  an  ordinarily  strong  man 
would  have  staggered  under  they  sent  flying 
through  the  trees  almost  lance-like  with  tre- 
mendous sweeps  of  their  arms.  Ceaselessly  their 
saws  rang,  their  axes  bit,  the  poles  flew  and  the 
burden  bearing  went  on  until  at  the  end  of  fif- 
teen minutes  the  watcher  wondered  that  they 
did  not  drop  exhausted  in  their  tracks,  yet  he 
knew  that  this  was  but  the  first  half  hour  of 
the  long  day's  work.  Flint  returning  threw 
aside  his  ax  and  led  on  to  where  the  road  ended 
abruptly  amongst  the  brush. 

"Here  is  where  you  begin.  We  want  to  put 
this  road  through  to  the  stream  half  a  mile  ahead 
so  we  can  use  the  sleds  on  it  before  the  drive 
starts.  Dodge  the  big  trees  where  you  have  to, 
but  work  in  as  straight  a  line  as  you  can.  Mow 


60  BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS 

down  that  brush  into  a  stubble  with  your  ax 
and  slaughter  the  small  stuff  that  gets  in  your 
way.  Chop  out  bad  roots  and  cut  everything 
out  of  the  road  that  will  catch  a  runner  or  a  hoof. 
What  you  can't  handle  alone  I'll  send  the  horses 
in  to  drag  out  after  you  get  through.  Keep 
busy  now  because  I'll  check  you  up  in  a  day  or 
two."  With  these  words  he  was  gone  back 
along  the  road,  leaving  the  road  monkey  to  his 
lone  fight  against  the  forest. 

With  the  misgivings  with  which  a  novice  picks 
up  a  strange  tool  the  swamper  selected  a  sapling 
that  barred  the  way,  measured  his  distance  from 
it  by  eye  and  smote  at  it  tremendously  with  the 
ax.  The  blade  missed  the  mark  by  several 
inches  and  buried  itself  in  the  frozen  earth,  while 
the  smiter,  whirled  from  his  balance  by  the  force 
of  the  blow,  nearly  fell  upon  it.  He  regained 
his  poise,  stepped  a  foot  nearer  and  tried  again 
with  less  force  and  more  caution.  This  time  he 
hit  the  object  of  his  attack  but  the  steel,  held  at 
a  wrong  angle,  glanced  from  the  bark  and  left 
but  a  white  scar  where  it  should  have  bitten  deep. 
He  settled  himself  more  firmly  in  his  tracks  and 
tried  a  third  time,  was  fairly  successful  and  five 


BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS  61 

minutes  later  and  after  many  wasted  and  im- 
perfect strokes,  had  the  satisfaction  of  seeing 
his  first  tree  fall.  But  a  long  splinter  stood 
penetrating  the  air  where  the  cut-off  should  have 
been  sharp  and  clean,  and  this  he  haggled  down 
by  an  awkward  using  of  the  ax  held  hatchet 
fashion  in  one  hand,  then  cast  his  eyes  about  for 
another  victim.  He  did  not  have  far  to  search, 
and  though  he  did  better  this  time  it  was  a  botch 
job  at  the  best,  and  already  feeling  his  arms 
grow  tired  he  sought  to  vary  his  work  by  drag- 
ging the  trunks  aside.  Despite  the  bitter  air  the 
perspiration  was  beading  his  forehead  and  his 
breath  came  rapidly,  yet  he  worked  on  unceas- 
ingly until  the  sun  was  well  afloat  and  its  rays 
bright  upon  the  spotless  snow.  His  hands  were 
blistered,  his  arms  and  back  ached  tremendously 
and  his  knees  wabbled  beneath  him  as  he  toiled, 
and  at  last,  ashamed  as  he  was  of  his  slow  prog- 
ress, he  was  driven  to  the  consciousness  that  he 
must  stop  for  a  spell  of  exertionless  breathing. 
He  let  his  ax  drop  upon  the  snow  and  made  a 
few  rapid  mental  calculations  as  he  removed  his 
cap  and  wiped  the  sweat  from  his  forehead. 
"I  gof.  up  at  half  past  four,  was  through 


62  BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS 

breakfast  before  five  and  must  have  started  to 
work  here  about  six.  It  has  been  about  four 
hours  since  Flint  left,  which  makes  it  ten  o'clock 
now  and  only  two  more  hours  to  dinner  time. 
Well,  I  suppose  I  can  live  through  that."  He 
drew  out  his  watch  to  verify  his  calculation  and 
glanced  at  the  dial.  It  was  ten  minutes  after 
eight. 

Unable  to  believe  that  the  lagging  hands 
moved  at  all  he  held  the  timepiece  to  his  ear, 
shook  it,  found  that  it  still  ticked  merrily  and 
then  utterly  dejected  dropped  to  a  seat  upon 
a  log.  What  had  seemed  to  him  at  least  four 
hours  had  in  reality  been  but  two.  And  four 
more  must  drag  themselves  by  before  noon  with 
its  blessed  respite  would  free  him  for  the  time 
being  from  his  task.  Then  would  follow  a  half 
mile  walk  to  camp  which  would  consume  precious 
minutes,  a  hurried  gulping  down  of  dinner,  a 
fifteen  minutes'  rest  and  the  tramp  back  again  to 
five  hours  more  of  backbreaking.  As  he  looked 
forward  to  what  was  to  come  it  did  not  seem 
possible  that  he  could  last  out  the  day,  and  the 
impulse  was  almost  irresistible  to  throw  down 
his  blade  and  abandoning  his  work  strike  through 


BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS  63 

the  woods  for  the  nearest  town.  Then  as  he 
thought  of  the  weakness  of  such  an  act,  the  old 
spirit  of  physical  obstinacy  that  had  known  no 
such  thing  as  quitting  in  the  grueling  contests 
of  the  field  arose  within  him  and  he  shut  his 
teeth  doggedly.  From  out  of  the  past  there 
came  before  his  mental  eye  the  sharply  defined 
panorama  of  his  last  and  greatest  race  five  years 
before,  when  in  perfect  physical  condition  he 
had  been  pitted  against  the  best  men  of  half  a 
dozen  colleges  for  the  ten  mile  cross  country 
run.  Every  stage  of  that  heartbreaking  strug- 
gle arose  vividly  before  him;  the  first  labored 
breathing  and  sharp  stabbing  pains  about  his 
heart,  the  blinding  sweat  that  had  filled  his  eyes 
and  the  gasping,  drunken  struggle  up  the  hill 
two  miles  further  on,  when  he  seemed  to  taste 
his  own  blood  and  the  world  swam  dizzily  in 
a  sky  of  red.  Then,  as  though  looking  at  him- 
self in  a  mirror,  he  saw  the  stumble  and  fall  from 
exhaustion  and  the  slow  crawl  to  the  creek  where 
he  lay  upon  his  stomach  in  the  water  for  five 
precious  minutes  before  he  arose  for  the  final 
two  miles'  spurt,  refreshed  and  breathing  easily 
once  more  but  with  Chase  a  good  two  hundred 


'64,  BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS 

yards  in  the  lead.  He  had  believed  that  he  was 
hopelessly  behind,  yet  he  had  struggled  on 
dauntlessly  and  when  the  end  came  had  fallen 
unconscious  under  the  tape  a  yard  in  the  lead, 
a  winner  by  sheer  grit  and  driving  power  of  will. 
Well,  he  was  far  from  being  in  perfect  physical 
condition  now,  but  at  least  he  still  had  his  grit. 
His  breath  had  returned  and  he  arose  and  fell 
upon  his  task  again,  more  slowly  and  method- 
ically now  but  learning  his  ax  with  every  stroke. 
Even  at  this  slower  rate  of  working  he  doubted 
his  ability  to  last  out  the  forenoon,  but  an  hour 
later  and  when  he  least  expected  it  relief  came. 

Through  the  woods  the  chore  "boy,"  sixty 
years  of  age  came  shuffling,  bearing  a  great  box 
strapped  upon  his  shoulders  and  uttering  at 
frequent  intervals  a  weird  cry.  Wilson  ceas- 
ing his  efforts  stared  at  him  uncomprehendingly. 
But  he  was  not  long  in  gathering  the  signifi- 
cance of  the  call,  for  bursting  from  out  of  the 
forest  with  the  eagerness  of  hunger-gnawed 
wolves  came  a  score  of  men  who  followed  close 
on  the  heels  of  the  shuffling  figure.  And  the 
road  monkey  now  scenting  what  was  to  come 
threw  down  his  implement  and  jogged  along  in 


BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS  65 

their  train.  A  short  distance  further  on  among 
the  trees  a  fire  was  crackling  cheerfully  under 
a  suspended  bucket,  and  from  out  of  the  box 
and  into  the  outstretched  hands  the  chore  boy 
passed  bread  and  meat,  hot  potatoes  and  pastry 
to  be  washed  down  by  huge  gulps  of  scalding  tea. 
Then  seated  upon  logs  or  stretched  upon  the 
snow  the  woodsmen  filled  their  pipes  for  a  few 
dozen  puffs  before  returning  to  their  labors. 
It  was  but  a  brief  rest,  but  a  priceless  one,  and 
the  tea  warmed  and  the  meat  strengthened  the 
nearly  exhausted  swamper  until  at  the  summons 
he  retraced  his  steps  a  man  refreshed.  But  the 
long  day  was  only  a  quarter  over. 

How  Wilson  survived  those  first  twelve  hours 
of  ax  swinging  and  log  lifting  he  scarcely  knew; 
still  as  in  the  long  race,  pure  grit  won  out. 
When  night  came  so  great  was  his  fatigue  that 
even  hunger  was  absent,  and  so  sore  was  his 
body  that  he  groaned  as  he  shed  his  clothes  and 
crawled  painfully  into  his  bunk.  But  sleep 
came  to  him  almost  instantly,  and  before  the  crew 
had  finished  their  meal  he  was  unconscious  of 
his  sufferings  of  the  past.  And  returning  to  the 
bunkhouse  after  what  had  been  but  a  common- 


66  BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS 

place  day  for  them  they  saw  him  sleeping  there, 
and  realizing  his  condition  laughed  at  him  as 
they  passed.  But  of  all  this  the  sleeper  knew 
nothing,  and  had  he  known  was  too  weary  to  have 
cared.  An  hour  later  the  walking  boss  entering 
glanced  at  the  new  hand  and  then  turned  to  the 
grinning  crew. 

"You  let  that  man  alone  except  to  give  him  a 
lift  when  he  needs  it.  He's  the  worst  sample 
of  a  woodsman  that  ever  chewed  down  a  sap- 
ling, but  he's  got  plenty  of  muscle  and  more 
brains  than  all  the  rest  of  you  put  together.  I'm 
going  to  make  a  man  of  him  yet." 

He  left  the  room  with  these  words,  leaving 
his  hearers  grinning  sardonically. 


CHAPTER  IV 

Six  weeks  of  monotonous  toil,  barren  of  all 
things  that  made  life  worth  the  living  save  per- 
fect health,  passed  slowly  over  Wilson's  head. 
But  physical  suffering  was  now  a  thing  of  the 
past.  The  callouses  upon  his  hands  were  horn- 
like, and  his  endurance  seemed  as  endless  as  that 
of  the  mighty  Norwegians  themselves.  Incom- 
parable air  vitalized  and  filtered  by  snows  and 
pine,  combined  with  well-nigh  ceaseless  exertion 
and  an  abundance  of  wholesome  food  and  pro- 
found slumbers  had  done  their  work  well,  and 
he  stood  among  his  companions  a  stronger  and 
more  enduring  man  than  he  had  been  in  the 
height  of  his  physical  renown.  His  muscles 
were  swollen  again,  and  at  his  every  movement 
they  played  beneath  his  white  skin  like  minia- 
ture billows  beneath  a  smooth  sea.  He  had 
gained  nearly  a  score  of  pounds  in  weight,  yet 
not  an  ounce  of  useless  flesh  was  upon  him.  He 
was  active,  steady  nerved,  hard  as  nails.  And 

67 


68  BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS 

in  looks  he  had  improved  almost  beyond  belief. 
His  beard,  short  and  jet  black,  he  wore  neatly 
trimmed,  and  now  that  he  no  longer  especially 
feared  detection  he  had  discarded  his  disfiguring 
glasses.  Neither  did  his  head  any  longer  look 
like  the  back  of  a  clipped  porcupine,  but  bore 
hair  long  enough  to  make  a  comb  indispensable. 
He  was  a  silent  man,  doing  his  work  with  few 
words  and  often  with  thoughts  that  were  far 
away,  for  never  during  his  waking  hours  did  the 
dull  ache  within  his  bosom  cease  except  when 
Grayford's  face  as  he  had  last  seen  it  arose  be- 
fore him.  At  those  times  something  seemed  to 
pierce  him  through  and  through,  and  he  would 
double  up  a  bit  with  a  quick  catching  of  his 
breath  as  though  he  had  been  stabbed  in  a  vital 
spot.  Then  the  sudden  pang  would  be  over 
and  the  dull  throb  begin  again. 

The  last  four  weeks  had  been  strenuous  ones 
for  the  crew  of  Camp  5.  A  few  days  after  Wil- 
son arrived  a  wind  from  out  of  the  south  had 
melted  the  snow  like  butter  upon  a  warm  grid- 
dle; then  the  mercury  dived  to  the  zero  mark 
again  and  the  much  longed-for  snows  fell,  if 
they  fell  at  all,  elsewhere.  It  was  at  this  inop- 


BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS  69 

portune  time  to  Findlay  that  the  construction  de- 
partment of  the  Isthmus  &  Soo  railroad  decided 
to  sink  a  spur  deep  into  the  body  of  the  woods 
and  connect  Archer  with  Turtle  Junction  in 
order  that  they  might  better  handle  the  ore  traf- 
fic. .  When  Dunham,  the  gray  old  timber  fox 
who  had  charge  of  such  things  for  the  railroad, 
received  his  orders  to  "go  ahead,"  he  closed  his 
lips  so  tightly  around  his  long  black  cigar  that 
it  looked  like  a  spike  driven  into  a  crack.  Then 
he  began  talking  to  himself  as  he  sent  the  smoke 
spouting  towards  the  ceiling. 

"That  tie  contract  will  have  to  go  either  to  the 
Badger  Lumber  Company  or  to  Findlay. 
Well,  of  course  everybody  knows  how  they  feel 
towards  each  other.  I  don't  -mean  to  say  that 
they  exactly  hate  each  other,  but  if  Findlay 
should  happened  to  get  burned  to  a  crisp  in  a 
forest  fire,  old  Meyer  of  the  Badger  outfit  would 
put  up  a  monument  with  "Well  Done"  on  it 
over  his  remainders,  while  if  Meyer  happened  to 
go  through  the  ice  Findlay  would  throw  him  the 
biggest  rock  on  the  bank  for  a  life  preserver. 
Therefore,  if  they  happened  to  meet  in  my  office 
here — by  accident  of  course — they'd  bristle  up 


70  BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS 

like  a  couple  of  fighting  pups  and  begin  reach- 
ing for  leg  holds  instanter.  Result  would  be 
that  the  I.  &  S.  would  get  a  tie  contract  from 
one  or  the  other  of  them  that  would  make  the 
successful  bidder  hate  himself  to  death  before  he 
got  through  carrying  it  out."  So  having  rea- 
soned it  out  along  this  line  Dunham  beckoned  to 
his  amanuensis. 

"Miss  Johnson,  I  wish  you  would  write  a  letter 
to  Mr.  Meyer  of  the  Badger  Company,  asking 
him  to  call  upon  me  on  the  tenth  at  two  o'clock, 
and  send  a  similar  note  to  John  Findlay,  telling 
him  I  should  be  pleased  to  meet  him  here  on  the 
eleventh  at  the  same  hour.  Of  course  you  will 
be  very  careful  not  to  get  those  dates  mixed." 

"Trust  me,"  replied  Miss  Johnson  pertly. 
Then  she  sat  down  to  her  machine  and  made  one 
of  the  blunders  that  they  paid  her  a  double  salary 
for  instinctively  knowing  when  to  perpetrate. 
The  consequence  was  that  Meyer  and  Findlay 
met  point  blank  in  Dunham's  office  on  the  tenth. 
Dunham  seemed  greatly  distressed  over  the  cir- 
cumstance and  gave  his  callers  cigars  to  prove 
it. 

"But  now,  boys,"  he  said  as  the  rivals  glowered 


BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS  71 

at  each  other  through  the  smoke  fog,  "seeing 
that  we  are  all  here  together  we  might  as  well 
drop  sentiment  and  have  a  little  medicine  talk. 
The  I.  &  S.  wants  those  ties  at  bed  rock  price, 
and  it  wants  them  as  soon  as  quick  movements 
and  man's  inhumanity  to  man  can  deliver  them. 
What  are  your  figures,  Meyer?" 

"Thirty  thousand  dollars,"  said  Meyer  as  he 
thieved  a  quick  glance  at  his  rival  from  across 
the  Manitouwish. 

"And  yours,  John?" 

"Twenty-five  thousand." 

"Then  I'll  call  it  twenty-five  thousand,  too," 
responded  Meyer  promptly.  Externally  Dun- 
ham remained  cool,  but  internally  he  was  aglow 
with  a  warm,  glad  smile.  The  approximate  bot- 
tom price  had  been  reached  at  the  first  jump, 
and  he  was  politic  enough  not  to  haggle  over 
hundreds.  But  there  was  another  important 
point  to  be  settled,  and  his  heavy  lashes  fell 
over  his  eyes  like  shades  as  he  concentrated  his 
gaze  on  the  ash  of  his  cigar. 

"Well,  I  guess  the  price  is  near  enough  right, 
boys,  if  we  can  get  together  on  the  question  of 
delivery.  Of  course  it  is  understood  that  time  is 


72  BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS 

the  essence  of  this  contract.  When  can  you  de- 
liver those  ties  in  our  yard  at  Archer,  Mr. 
Meyer?" 

The  black  brows  of  the  Badger  man  con- 
tracted as  he  gazed  deep  into  the  silent  woods. 
"Between  April  first  and  tenth,  depending  on 
how  soon  the  break-up  comes.  But  you  may 
be  sure  of  one  thing,  Mr.  Dunham,  that  stuff 
will  go  down  the  river  with  the  ice,  and  the  man 
don't  live  who  can  beat  that  for  quick  delivery. 
The  Badger  company  will  do  its  damnedest — 
and  angels  can  do  no  more."  Findlay  sat  look- 
ing at  them  in  grim  silence,  and  Dunham  after 
giving  him  plenty  of  time  in  which  to  make  a 
bid,  husked  a  dry  cough  from  his  voice  and  went 
on  thoughtfully. 

"Pretty  late,  but  I  don't  suppose  I  can  ask  you 
to  deliver  them  by  air  ship  at  those  figures.  Our 
minds  have  met  as  to  price,  and,  of  course,  which 
one  of  you  gets  the  contract  makes  no  difference 
to  me.  But  inasmuch  as  Mr.  Meyer  spoke  first 
and  Mr.  Findlay  can't  better  the  bid  I  suppose 
I  might  as  well  let  Meyer— 

"Hold  on,"  broke  in  Findlay  as  his  jaw  sud- 
denly thrust  itself  out.  "If  I  give  you  a  fifty 


BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS  73 

thousand  dollar  bond  that  I  will  deliver  those 
ties  at  Archer,  March  first,  thirty  days  before 
Mr.  Meyer's  date,  do  I  get  that  contract?" 

Dunham  glanced  at  Meyer,  and  Meyer  staring 
at  his  rival  said  nothing  at  all.  So  presently 
Dunham  said  "yes"  and  at  that  word  Findlay 
arose. 

"My  word  for  my  bond  in  three  days.  Good 
day,  gentlemen." 

The  door  closed  behind  him  and  the  remaining 
two  sat  looking  at  each  other  silently.  What 
Meyer  said  when  his  tongue  began  working  is 
entirely  unprintable;  what  Dunham  said  in  con- 
soling him  was  approximately  this : 

"I'll  get  his  ties  or  his  money  and  that  is  all 
T  want.  He  will  probably  go  busted  trying  to 
carry  it  through  on  time  and  that  will  be  satis- 
faction enough  for  you.  Sorry  you  lost  out, 
old  man.  Take  another  smoke." 

So  with  that  the  incident  ended.  John  Findlay 
strode  away  as  many  another  victor  has  done, 
his  heart  thumping  from  the  strife  of  battle  but 
his  reason  telling  him  that  he  had  risked  too 
much.  Long  and  bitter  had  been  the  fight  that 
be  had  waged  in  those  cold  north  woods,  and  to 


74  BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS 

lose  out  now  spelled  ruin  just  as  his  star  of  hope 
was  rising  brightly  above  the  horizon.  There- 
fore it  is  not  to  be  wondered  at  that  he  and  Flint 
for  the  next  week  sat  day  by  day  in  the  little 
office  of  the  sawmill  as  they  smoked  steadily 
and  spat  intermittently  into  the  sawdust-filled 
box,  but  at  the  end  of  that  time  they  arose  to- 
gether as  if  by  mutual  agreement  and  shook  the 
inactivity  from  them  as  a  buffalo  bull  shakes 
away  the  dust  of  his  noonday  rumination  when 
he  has  finally  decided  to  give  mortal  battle  to 
his  enemy. 

"Of  course  there  is  only  one  way  to  do  it  and 
that  is  to  build  an  ice  road  from  Camp  5  to 
Archer,"  said  Flint.  "We  have  sat  around  here 
for  a  week  waiting  for  snow,  but  what  there  is  of 
it  on  the  ground  now  isn't  as  thick  as  a  man's 
skin.  But  I'll  lay  out  a  route  and  we'll  put 
things  through  somehow.  You  attend  to  your 
end  of  the  business  which  is  to  furnish  the  money 
and  leave  the  work  to  me."  So  Findlay  went 
to  town  and  the  walking  boss  disappeared  in  the 
woods. 

For  the  next  week  Flint  blazed  his  way 
through  frozen  tamarack  swamps,  across  old 


BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS  75 

slashings  and  over  hardwood  ridges  while  Find- 
lay  waited  to  hear  from  him.  The  cold  was  in- 
tense, the  river  covered  itself  with  a  foot  of  armor 
and  more  than  once  the  lean  wolf -pack  kept  the 
lone  woods  cruiser  close  company  as  he  swung 
campward  in  the  gloom  of  evening  with  their 
red  eyes  upon  him.  Endlessly  the  deserted 
woods  stretched  away  on  every  side  and  close 
above  them  the  gray  cloud  masses  sailed,  but  the 
wind  blew  steadily  from  the  north  and  no  snow 
came.  Scarcely  an  inch  of  it  covered  the 
ground,  and  the  great  sprinklers  that  had  been 
built  with  a  rush  stood  inert  and  helpless  at  the 
camps  like  uncouth  monsters  bound  to  the  earth 
by  ice  manacles.  But  on  the  eighth  day  the 
walking  boss  telegraphed  his  employer  and  that 
night  the  two  men  met  at  Archer.  Flint  began 
pulling  off  pair  after  pair  of  socks  and  his  eyes 
were  as  bright  as  though  he  had  only  traveled 
two  miles  instead  of  twenty  through  the  brush 
since  morning. 

"I've  got  the  route  laid  out  and  there  is  only 
one  bad  hill  upon  it,"  he  said  through  the  ice  of 
his  mustache.  "And  we  can  get  over  that  rise  all 
right  with  a  couple  of  extra  teams  to  yank  the 


76  BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS 

sleds  up  and  plenty  of  straw  on  the  downshoot 
to  grouser  them  on  the  come-down.  I'll  put  an 
ice  road  through  here  that  will  make  that  Badger 
crowd  see  its  shadow  on  Candlemas  day  or  leave 
my  pelt  hanging  in  the  woods  to  make  whip- 
lashes of.  A  month  from  now  you  will  be  able 
to  skate  from  Camp  5  to  Archer  if  you  feel  like 
it."  His  employer  looked  at  him  approvingly. 

"Of  course  we'll  do  it  some  way,  but  how  are 
you  going  to  get  those  big  sprinklers  going  with- 
out snow?"  he  asked  after  a  while.  "You  can't 
sled  them  over  the  bare  ground,  of  course,  and 
how  are  you  going  to  get  a  slideway  for  the  first 
trip?" 

"Skin  the  river  of  its  ice  and  lay  it  before  the 
sprinklers  in  slabs  as  we  go.  Once  over  the 
route  with  the  water  sleds  and  we  can  cement 
and  broaden  it  out  quickly  enough  if  the  cold 
keeps  up.  I'll  be  hauling  ten  thousand  to  the 
load  before  February  ends,  and  that  is  something 
no  man  has  done  yet  in  this  neck  of  the  woods. 
But  of  course  it  is  going  to  cost  some  money  to 
build  thai  road." 

"All  right,  I'll  stand  for  it,"  returned  John  as 
he  drew  his  chair  close  to  the  table.  Sitting 


BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS  77 

silently  beside  the  walking  boss  he  watched  him 
as  the  latter  rapidly  sketched  a  bird's-eye  plat 
of  the  country  through  which  the  road  was  to 
wind,  until  with  the  coming  of  midnight  they 
arose  and  crept  into  their  bunks.  Duller  be- 
came the  blush  of  the  heater  and  thicker  grew  the 
frost  coat  on  the  narrow  windows  that  burrowed 
through  the  huge  logs  of  the  camp.  The  cold 
came  creeping  beneath  the  door  and  the  water  in 
the  pail  in  the  corner  thickened  and  froze,  while 
the  night  breath  of  the  sleepers  curled  from  their 
lips  like  wisps  of  steam.  The  last  red  ember  in 
the  heater  expired  with  a  crack,  the  pawings  from 
the  nearby  stable  ceased  and  over  all  fell  the 
hush  of  the  great  north  woods,  unbroken  save 
by  the  fall  of  a  broken  limb  and  the  faint  hunt- 
ing song  of  the  distant  running  pack. 

Four  o'clock  came  and  the  chore  boy  crept 
from  under  his  blankets  with  the  whirl  of  the 
alarm  clock  still  in  his  ears.  Shuddering  with  the 
cold  he  crept  into  his  clothing  and  then  stepped 
into  the  biting  air  without.  Overhead  the 
stars  were  glimmering  and  the  moon  was  still 
leagues  from  her  western  harbor.  The  dull, 
red  glow  of  lamps  shone  through  the  windows 


78  BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS 

of  the  cook  shanty  and  the  steamy  smell  of  break- 
fast filled  his  nose  as  he  hurried  past,  but  the 
bunkhouse  with  its  seventy  sleeping  men  was 
black  save  for  the  night  lamp.  Hurriedly  he 
thrust  his  head  within  the  door,  voiced  his  long 
vibrant  cry  of  "R-o-1-1  o-u-t,  r-o-1-1  o-u-t,"  then 
passed  quickly  to  the  "office"  and  opened  the 
door.  The  tall  form  of  Flint  already  fully 
dressed  towered  above  him,  the  unshaven,  weather 
beaten  face  looking  in  the  lamplight  as  a  mask 
cut  from  hickory  bark. 

"Don't  mind  it  so  much  when  I  once  get  into 
action,"  said  the  walking  boss  to  Findlay  as  the 
latter  was  breaking  the  ice  of  the  pail  pre- 
paratory to  his  morning's  ablutions.  He 
stretched  a  pair  of  muscle  plaited  arms  towards 
the  ceiling.  "I've  been  getting  up  by  moon- 
light most  of  the  time  for  the  last  thirty  years, 
and  I  guess  I'll  be  going  to  sleep  by  it  pretty 
regular  for  the  next  thirty  days  anyway  while 
we  are  getting  that  ice  road  going.  Generally 
mornings  when  I  wake  up  and  think  what  I 
have  got  to  go  through  before  I  can  turn  in 
again,  I  feel  like  turning  over  and  taking  a  little 
nap  for  a  couple  of  million  years  and  getting 


BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS  79 

good  and  rested."  Findlay  looked  at  the 
speaker  over  his  towel. 

"Now  that  kind  of  talk  makes  me  tired. 
What  you  need  is  a  little  exercise  to  liven  you 
up.  You  haven't  done  anything  but  sleep  for 
the  last  four  hours  and  you  are  getting  hog  fat 
and  lazy.  But  if  you  do  a  good  job  on  that  ice 
road  I'll  give  you  all  day  off  on  Christmas. 
Come  on  to  breakfast  and  quit  kicking."  He 
slipped  his  arm  through  that  of  the  other  and 
they  followed  the  horn-call  into  the  cook  shanty, 
while  the  chore  boy  gazed  after  them  in  slack- 
jawed  amazement. 

"Now  what  do  you  think  of  that?"  he  mut- 
tered. "Wants  to  sleep  for  two  million  years! 
That  walking  boss  is  certainly  lazy." 

Flint  built  the  road  in  a  little  less  than  three 
weeks,  but  he  only  averaged  about  one-fifth  of 
the  time  asleep  while  he  did  it.  As  for  the  men 
who  worked  under  him  during  that  frenzied  per- 
iod, they  cursed  him  without  intermission  while 
the  work  was  going  on,  and  are  still  bragging 
about  having  had  a  hand  in  it.  First  swamping 
out  the  road  they  filled  the  low  places  with  bru&h 
and  broke  it  down  beneath  the  hoofs  of  their 


80  BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS 

heavy  horses,  and  having  thus  made  the  foun- 
dation they  laid  ice  slabs  before  the  sprinklers. 
Beneath  the  constant  flow  of  water  from  the  four 
horse  tanks  it  became  like  adamant.  The  road 
was  finished  on  the  twenty-fourth  of  December 
and  it  was  a  good  thing  to  look  at.  Flint  had 
grown  pounds  thinner,  but  he  forgot  all  about 
his  loss  of  flesh  when  John  Findlay  after  the 
last  critical  inspection  of  the  road  took  him  by 
the  hand  and  shook  it  without  saying  a  word. 
Barring  his  natural  gift  in  the  way  of  handling 
high-power  expletives  Flint  was  not  much  of 
a  talker,  and  he  admired  a  man  who  could  ex- 
press himself  as  fluently  as  that  by  a  handshake. 
Christmas  morning  came  clear  and  bitterly 
cold,  the  woods  deserted  of  toilers,  the  travoix 
motionless  in  the  shallow  snow  and  the. great  ice- 
hung  sprinklers  sleeping  upon  the  roadway  that 
they  had  builded  by  sun,  moon  and  starlight 
with  their  spoutings.  Heavy  feet  crunched  the 
brittle  snow  without  the  office  of  Camp  5,  and  at 
the  first  sound  Flint  thrust  a  heavy  automatic 
pistol  into  his  pocket  and  then  leaned  indolently 
against  the  logs.  The  next  instant  the  door  was 
burst  open  and  in  lurched  a  body  of  woodsmen 


BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS  81 

who  crowding  into  the  corners  of  the  cabin  left 
the  center  of  the  room  empty,  while  Lebeau  who 
led  them,  drawing  a  piece  a  chalk  from  his 
pocket,  drew  a  wide,  crude  circle  upon  the 
boards. 

"Bah,  you  walking  boss.  Like  a  dog  you 
work  us  in  ze  cold  to  make  ze  cursed  ice  road. 
Like  a  loup  garou  you  work  us  and  swing  your 
ax  when  ze  moon  shine.  Like  a  devil  'you  make 
a  noise  when  we  whale  a  horse  to  build  you  ze 
corderoy  more  soon.  Somebody  say  you  can 
fight  fast.  He  lie.  I  make  you  a  square  circle 
on  ze  floor  and  give  you  invitation.  I  explain 
to  you  ze  pleasure  of  a  contest  with  ze  foot.  I 
teach  you  la  savatte.  You  weesh  to  learn  ze 
grand  trick?" 

The  gray  eyes  of  the  walking  boss  grew  hard 
as  flint,  but  his  voice  was  silken  as  he  made  his 
slow  reply.  "Not  to-day,  Joe.  We  have  all 
had  a  hard  time  of  it  for  the  last  month  and  I 
guess  most  of  us  are  a  little  off  our  feed  just  at 
present.  Go  back  to  your  bunk  and  take  a  good 
sleep.  We  will  need  you  early  in  the  morning." 

Lebeau's  lip  curled  and  a  flash  of  his  big  white 
teeth  came  from  beneath  it  as  he  ground  the 


82  BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS 

chalk  under  his  heel.  "Who  need  me  to- 
morr?" 

"Findlay,  who  needs  every  good  man  he  has. 
And  you  are  one  of  his  best,  Joe,  and  that  is  the 
reason  we  let  you  have  the  gray  team.  You 
ought  to  appreciate  that  much,  anyway." 
Angrily  the  Canadian  doubled  his  fists  as  he  spat 
upon  the  floor. 

"M'sieur  Findlay.  Ba'  Cras  how  I  love 
heem.  I  weesh  him  a  Merry  Christmas  in  the 
devil's  cook  shanty;  is  it  not  so,  Pete  Mullet? 
Come  you  with  me.  Follow  Joe  Lebeau  and  he 
will  show  you  joy.  We  will  drink,  we  will 
dance,  we  will  make  ridicule.  Come  with  Joe 
Lebeau." 

Out  into  the  open  air  he  swaggered,  his  band 
behind  him,  and  Wilson  remaining  behind  heard 
them  go  roaring  down  the  ice  road  towards 
Archer.  And  as  the  last  yell  died  away  he  saw 
the  forehead  of  Flint  wrinkle  like  a  pool  into 
which  a  stone  is  thrown  while  tense  lines  bound 
the  lips  together.  For  Flint  well  knew  that 
once  fairly  started  on  a  big  drunk  the  crew  would 
scatter  from  the  Soo  to  Sturgeon  Bay,  and  every 
day  was  almost  priceless  to  him  now  with  the 


BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS  83 

driving  work  that  lay  ahead.  Moodily  he  stood 
at  the  window  and  stared  into  the  silent  woods, 
but  down  in  the  cook  shanty  cook  and  cookee 
were  grinning  at  each  other  delightedly.  There 
would  be  few  to  feed  that  night,  and  even  so 
brief  a  respite  was  hailed  with  delight  by  the 
pair  that  for  weeks  had  cooked  and  washed  the 
dishes  four  times  a  day  for  seventy  ravening 
humans. 

Noon  came  with  Wilson,  Flint  and  the  cook 
the  only  inmates  of  the  long  tables  of  the  shanty. 
Silently  they  ate  until  the  walking  boss,  finishing 
his  meal,  arose  with  a  nod  at  the  swamper. 
"Come  with  me,"  he  said  brusquely.  "I'm  go- 
ing down  to  that  log  dive  in  the  woods  near 
Archer  and  start  that  crew  back  here  or  bust 
things  up  somewhat.  After  I  have  done  that  I 
want  you  to  go  on  to  the  store  and  wait  there 
until  to-morrow.  Findlay  will  be  there  some 
time  during  the  day  and  I  want  to  hear  from 
him  in  regard  to  some  telegraph  poles.  He  will 
probably  want  to  send  out  word  by  you."  Into 
the  cutter  they  got  and  with  the  wind  whistling 
past  their  ears  went  whistling  down  the  glisten- 
ing roadway.  Six  miles  from  camp  the  walking 


84,  BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS 

boss  drew  hard  on  the  reins  and  motioned  for  his 
companion  to  dismount. 

"They  are  in  a  log  joint  over  here  to  the  left 
a  little  way.  Neither  Findlay  nor  the  Badger 
people  allow  any  liquor  sold  on  their  holdings, 
but  there  is  a  saloon  keeper  from  down  the  road 
who  comes  up  here  holiday  time  with  a  barrel 
of  whisky  and  gets  them  going.  You  go  on  to 
the  store  and  wait  there  for  Findlay  while  I  take 
care  of  them."  The  swamper  following  on 
along  the  road  was  soon  lost  among  the  trees; 
Flint  turning  up  the  tote  road  hitched  his  team 
a  hundred  yards  from  the  dive  and  approached  it 
upon  foot,  his  jaws  set  grimly.  From  the  out- 
side of  the  door  he  heard  the  voice  of  Lebeau 
raised  in  bull-like  bellowings. 

"Ze  walking  boss — he  no  good.  He  say  you 
mus'  not  sleep,  you  mus'  not  eat,  you  mus'  not 
take  pleasure,  but  all  ze  time  you  mus'  work,  all 
day,  all  night.  He  crack  his  whip  and  you  mus' 
leap.  He  shake  his  fist  and  you  mus'  break 
your  back.  Bah!  I  grow  weary  of  him.  To- 
morr'  I  meet  him  in  the  camp  and  I  crack  his 
neck.  I  fix  him  fine." 

The  door  of  the  shack  opened  and  the  tall 


BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS  85 

form  of  the  boss  towered  before  them.  Motion- 
less he  stood  while  his  gray  eyes  settled  hard 
upon  them,  and  before  his  gaze  the  tumult  sick- 
ened and  died.  The  fight  that  had  raged  in  a 
corner  degenerated  to  a  scuffle,  and  the  heavy 
feet  of  the  dancers  grew  still  in  the  presence  of 
this  man  who  had  driven  them  as  no  man  ever 
had  before.  Calmly,  but  with  each  word  force- 
ful as  a  bullet  Flint  spoke. 

"This  thing  has  got  to  stop.  I've  got  to  have 
you  back  in  the  woods  to-morrow  and  you  must 
get  back  to  camp  while  you  are  able  to  walk. 
I've  been  a  patient  man  to-day  but  I've  reached 
my  limit.  Now  clean  yourselves  out  of  here  be- 
fore I  clean  you." 

Sullenly  they  turned  upon  him,  shifting  on 
their  feet  and  glancing  at  each  other  uneasily. 
And  seeing  their  doggedness  an  ominous  glitter 
came  into  the  pupils  of  the  boss  as  roughly  he 
shouldered  his  way  to  the  back  of  the  shack  and 
drew  a  small  cylinder  from  his  pocket.  "Dyna- 
mite cartridge  with  a  two-minute  tail,"  he  said 
as  he  set  it  upon  the  stove  and  held  a  flaming 
match  above  it.  "You  want  to  dance  and  drink 
some  more  do  you?  Well,  unless  you  hike  out 


86  BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS 

of  here  you'll  all  be  doing  a  quickstep  to-night 
for  the  devil."  Deliberately  he  lighted  the  fuse 
and  took  his  stand  behind  the  cartridge  with 
his  pistol  drawn.  Stern  and  uncompromising, 
meeting  their  wild  .glances  unwinkingly,  he 
looked  the  incarnation  of  Will,  and  before  him 
their  crude  courage  failed  as  the  courage  of  the 
lion  fails  before  the  unfathomable  eyes  of  liis 
keeper.  No  man  knew  just  how  far  Flint  would 
go  in  the  enforcing  of  an  order  and  now  none 
waited  to  see.  Struggling,  cursing,  roaring, 
they  fought  their  way  out  of  the  door  and  went 
swarming  down  the  road,  while  the  boss  ex- 
tinguishing the  fuse  threw  the  cartridge  far  into 
the  woods.  Down  the  woods  lane  the  runaways 
were  staggering  into  the  distance,  wrangling, 
fighting,  howling  insanely. 

The  afternoon  sun  sank  until  it  seemed  to  rest 
on  the  tops  of  the  western  forest  like  a  broad 
gold  piece  poised  delicately.  And  the  walking 
boss  arising  from  a  log  beside  his  cutter  where 
he  had  sat  for  an  hour  following  the  rout 
climbed  upon  the  seat.  Back  along  the  rough 
woods  trail  he  went  until  the  gleaming  ice  road 
lay  before  him,  then  turned  upon  it.  For  three 


BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS  87 

miles  he  drove  rapidly,  the  wind  smarting  his 
cheeks  and  the  ice  particles  cut  from  the  road 
by  the  sharp  hoofs  pelting  him  like  flying  frag- 
ments of  glass.  Then  as  his  half  galloping 
ponies  swung  around  a  bend  in  the  forest  road 
they  suddenly  arose  upon  their  hind  legs  with 
wild  pawings  at  the  air.  Less  than  a  dozen 
yards  in  front  of  them  and  lying  flat  upon  his 
back  on  the  ice  was  the  first  of  the  fallen  that 
Flint  had  feared  would  litter  the  homeward 
route. 

"Get  out  of  the  way,"  yelled  the  boss  as  with 
whip  and  bit  he  brought  the  rearing  animals 
back  to  earth.  The  steel  corks  of  the  beasts 
played  a  tattoo  upon  the  ice  close  to  the  motion- 
less form,  and  Flint,  throwing  his  weight  on  the 
lines,  pulled  the  broncos  by  main  force  against 
the  whiffle-trees. 

"Get  out  of  the  way  or  I'll  cut  you  into  three 
pieces  with  the  sled  runners,"  cried  the  boss  still 
more  harshly.  But  the  legs  of  the  lumber  jack 
only  kicked  spasmodically  and  Flint,  shortening 
his  reins,  leaped  to  the  ice.  "Can't  leave  you 
here  to  freeze  up  solid,  much  as  I'd  like  to," 
he  grunted  as  he  dumped  the  limp  form  head- 


88  BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS 

long  into  the  sleigh  box  behind.  "But  I'll  make 
you  pay  for  this  ride  to-morrow."  Onward  the 
ponies  sprang  again  with  nervous  leaps,  the  whip 
flicking  lightly  over  them,  and  with  half  way  to 
Camp  5  covered  and  with  but  a  single  helpless 
one  in  his  keeping  the  driver's  grip  on  the  lines 
relaxed  a  bit  and  his  face  grew  smoother.  At 
the  next  turn  of  the  road  it  roughened  again, 
however,  and  the  first  oath  that  had  escaped  his 
lips  that  day  burst  from  him  explosively. 
Fairly  in  front  of  him  and  locked  in  each  other's 
arms  as  they  had  gone  to  sleep  fighting  were 
Jimmy  Hard  Boots  and  Ole  Sawlog.  Along 
the  next  hundred  yards  four  more  men  were 
strewn  like  skirmishers  fallen  in  battle. 

One  by  one  the  walking  boss  laboriously  raised 
them  and  piled  them  upon  each  other  in  the  box, 
wedging  the  last  man  firmly  between  the  dash- 
board and  the  seat.  "Any  more  of  you  wood- 
cats  lying  around  in  the  brush?"  he  called. 
Closely  following  his  words  from  the  deep 
shadow  of  the  wayside  the  big  figure  of  Lebeau 
arose  from  a  lesser  form  on  which  he  had  been 
sitting. 

"Ze  pig  hog,"  he  exclaimed  with  a  gesture  at 


BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS  89 

the  one  who  lay  silently.  "He  make  me  ze 
grand  insult.  He  say  I  eat  ze  frog.  By  gar, 
I  beat  upon  him  like  a  drum.  Is  it  not  so,  you 
walking  boss?" 

"Looks  that  way,  Joe,"  said  Flint  very  quietly. 
He  dropped  the  reins  and  raised  another  two 
hundred  pounds  of  dead  weight  in  his  arms. 
The  only  unoccupied  place  in  the  sleigh  was  his 
own  seat  and  upon  it  he  placed  his  burden  and 
flicked  the  sweat  from  his  forehead  into  the  zero 
air.  "Guess  you  and  I  will  have  to  hoof  it  into 
camp,  Lebeau,"  he  said  over  his  shoulder. 
With  a  quick  leap  the  big  Canadian  was  upon 
the  sleigh,  and  trampling  the  slumberers  beneath 
his  feet  as  though  they  had  been  sawlogs,  clam- 
bered the  human  pile  and  from  its  summit  glow- 
ered down  upon  the  boss  with  the  light  of  battle 
shining  in  his  jet  black  eyes. 

"Get  down,"  cried  Flint,  his  voice  as  harsh 
as  the  rasp  of  a  saw.  The  derisive  laugh  of  the 
great  woodsman  went  reverberating  deep  into 
the  forest. 

"I  weesh  I  remain  up  here.  All  winter  I  skid 
logs  in  ze  cold.  Each  day  I  make  ten  t'ousand 
steps  in  ze  snow.  Each  night  I  rub  down  my 


90  BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS 

team  and  make  heem  shine  like  a  shoe.  I  am 
fatigue.  I  mos'  expire.  Now  I,  Joe  Lebeau, 
shall  ride."  Three  steps  and  Flint  was  opposite 
him. 

"You  weren't  too  tired  to  fight,  and  any  man 
that  can  fight  can  walk.  Get  off  there."  The 
dark  face  of  the  other  grew  still  darker. 

"I  make  you  ridicule.  I  laugh  before  you. 
I,  Joe  Lebeau,  bes'  man  in  ze  woods  shall  ride. 
You  walking  boss,  bah!" 

Five  minutes  later  Flint,  now  far  up  the  road 
and  walking  beside  his  ponies  looked  back  through 
the  shimmer.  Lebeau  was  just  staggering  to 
his  feet. 

The  moon  sailed  high  and  the  black  shadows  of 
the  forest  lay  heavily  upon  the  clearings.  Far 
away  towards  Loon  lake  again  came  the  faint 
song  of  the  running  pack  and  the  yells  from  the 
bunkhouse  gradually  ceased.  Flint  hurrying 
back  on  his  way  from  Camp  2  where  he  had  gone 
to  quell  an  incipient  riot  drew  a  deep  breath  of 
relief  as  he  threw  open  the  office  door  at  Camp 
5. 

"They  are  sleeping  all  right  now  and  will  be 
in  fair  shape  for  me  to  break  their  backs  again 


u 

4-1 

OS 

H 


BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS  91 

to-morrow.  And  most  likely  they  won't  lick  up 
another  drop  of  fire-water  until  after  camp 
breaks  up  in  the  spring.  And  maybe  after  all 
— •"  his  forehead  roughened  as  he  thought  of  what 
they  had  done  for  him  in  the  last  three  weeks— 
"maybe  after  all  that  they  have  gone  through 
lately  they  were  entitled  to  their  little  jamboree. 
Poor  devils !  There  is  not  much  pleasure  in  this 
world  for  them — not  much — not  much." 

For  the  first  time  since  he  had  arisen  at  four 
o'clock  that  morning  the  walking  boss  fumbled 
his  watch  from  his  pocket  and  glanced  at  it. 
The  hands  pointed  to  twelve,  and  seating  him- 
self upon  his  bunk  he  unlaced  his  long  boots  and 
tossed  them  beside  the  heater. 

"Guess  I  have  been  working  under  forced 
draught  myself  lately — anyway  I  feel  as  if  I 
could  use  up  a  good  share  of  those  two  million 
years'  sleep  I'll  have  coming  one  of  these  days. 
And  this  is  the  day  Findlay  told  me  I  could  have 
off  if  I  made  a  good  job  of  that  ice  road,"  he 
muttered.  Wearily  his  eyelids  fell  and  his 
rugged  form  seemed  to  soften  and  shrink  as  the 
hand  of  the  great  restorer  fell  heavily  upon  him. 
The  chore  boy  entering  at  that  moment  warily 


P2  BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS 

approached  him.     "When   shall   I   wake  them 
up  ?"  he  asked.     Flint  stared  at  him. 

"As  soon  as  they  get  good  and  asleep  of  course. 
They  won't  know  whether  they  have  slept  an 
hour  or  a  week."  Then  mackinaw  and  trousers, 
stockings  and  all  he  threw  himself  face  down- 
ward upon  the  bunk. 


CHAPTER  V 

THE  train  arriving  at  two  o'clock  the  next 
day,  two  hours  late  as  usual  on  a  run  of  thirty 
miles,  brought  Findlay  with  it.  So  greatly 
altered  in  looks  was  Wilson  that  his  employer 
looked  at  him  without  a  glimmer  of  recollection 
that  they  had  ever  met  before  until  the  swamper 
made  known  his  identity,  whereat  the  elder  man 
first  stared  and  then  chuckled. 

"Guess  you  have  eaten  twice  as  much  of  my 
grub  as  you  have  earned,  let  alone  the  wages  that 
are  coming  to  you,"  he  grinned.  "However,  I 
don't  begrudge  food  when  it  does  a  man  as  much 
good  as  it  has  you.  You  look  strong  enough  to 
pull  this  county  out  of  the  map  by  the  grub 
roots.  Now  run  out  to  camp  and  tell  Flint  to 
get  out  an  order  for  a  thousand  telegraph  poles, 
cedar,  strict  regulation.  Tell  him  that  I  ain't 
in  any  particular  hurry  for  them,  but  remind 
him  that  I  am  waiting.  I  don't  suppose  he  will 
happen  to  have  them  in  his  pocket,  but  if  he  has 

93 


94  BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS 

it  will  be  fortunate.  From  the  looks  of  the  sky 
and  the  feel  of  the  air  it  is  going  to  storm  at 
last,  and  I  would  recommend  that  you  get  your 
feet  started  hitting  that  trail  hard  and  fast  for 
I'd  hate  to  think  it  was  snowing  on  you."  He 
started  up  the  hill  without  more  ado,  and  Wil- 
son thinking  first  of  the  cozy  corner  of  the  cot- 
tage towards  which  his  employer  was  wending 
his  way,  and  second  of  the  long  lonely  trail  that 
stretched  between  himself  and  the  uncouth  build- 
ing which  was  his  only  home,  glued  his  eyes  upon 
the  path  and  "hit  it"  after  the  manner  of  the 
logger's  recommendation. 

As  the  camp  owner  had  prophesied  the  snows 
were  at  last  hanging  heavy  above  them.  Masses 
of  full-bellied  clouds  seemed  to  rest  upon  the 
higher  tree  tops,  drooping  ash-colored  from  a 
mulatto  sky.  Nor  had  the  traveler  gone  a 
quarter  of  a  mile  before  the  first  big  flake  melted 
against  the  tip  of  his  nose,  and  five  minutes 
later  the  air  was  hazy  with  the  downfall.  By 
the  time  he  had  covered  half  a  mile  the  trail  was 
beginning  to  lose  its  outlines,  but  he  had  been 
over  it  before,  remembered  it  and  trudged  on 
without  a  pause,  until  he  stopped  of  a  sudden  and 


BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS  95 

bent  low  over  the  snow.  Before  him  were  a 
number  of  tracks  much  like  those  of  a  huge  dog, 
and  although  they  had  already  been  dimmed  by 
the  fall  from  above  he  knew  that  the  beasts  that 
had  made  them  had  but  very  recently  passed. 
Wolf  tracks  were  common  things  about  Camp 
5  and  he  now  inspected  these  more  from  curiosity 
than  any  other  idea.  His  halt  was  but  brief, 
however,  and  a  few  seconds  later  he  was  again 
upon  his  way.  But  a  hundred  yards  further  on 
he  came  to  another  dead  stop  with  an  exclama- 
tion of  wonderment. 

For  there  were  other  tracks  imprinted  before 
him  now,  not  the  tracks  of  a  beast  but  those  of  a 
human,  and  that  human  was  beyond  the  shadow 
of  a  doubt  a  woman.  He  inspected  them  care- 
fully and  saw  that  she  had  come  up  the  main 
trail  to  this  point,  hesitated  there  and  then 
branched  off  upon  a  deer  path  that  led  deep  into 
the  woods.  A  minute's  survey  and  analysis  of 
the  outlines  told  him  what  had  happened  as  well 
as  though  he  had  stood  upon  the  spot  and  seen 
it  with  his  eyes.  The  woman  had  come  hurry- 
ing along  the  trail  towards  Archer,  had  acci- 
dentally run  across  a  couple  of  wolves,  had  be- 


96  BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS 

come  alarmed  by  their  sullen  refusal  to  clear  the 
road  for  her  and  had  gone  down  the  deer  path 
to  avoid  them.  Why  she  had  gone  this  distance 
within  the  woods  he  could  not  even  surmise,  but 
there  was  only  one  woman  residing  in  Archer 
and  that  woman  was  Barbara  Findlay. 

He  glanced  at  the  darkening  sky  and  whirling 
flakes  and  then  turned  upon  the  deer  trail  and 
went  trotting  softly  along  it.  The  one  who  had 
made  the  tracks  before  him  had  walked  very  fast 
and  he  now  saw  where  she  had  stumbled  upon  a 
hidden  root  and  fallen — starting  to  run  after  re- 
gaining her  feet.  He  quickened  his  gait  as  he 
saw  the  increased  length  of  the  fugitive's  stride, 
glancing  from  the  trail  to  the  woods  about  him 
from  time  to  time  in  the  constant  expectation  of 
seeing  her  close  at  hand.  He  had  no  fear  for 
her  actual  safety,  at  least  not  as  yet,  for  he  knew 
the  usual  cowardice  of  the  brutes  that  had 
alarmed  her  and  realized  that  had  she  but  faced 
them  boldy  they  would  in  all  probability  have 
skulked  away.  But  her  anxiety  at  suddenly 
finding  herself  in  such  company  must  have  been 
considerable,  and  it  was  more  with  the  idea  of 
quieting  her  mentally  than  protecting  her  phys- 


BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS  97 

ical  being  that  caused  him  to  desire  to  overtake 
her  as  quickly  as  possible.  Still,  one  could  never 
tell  what  hunger-goaded  wild  beasts  would  do, 
and  she  had  doubtless  greatly  augmented  their 
courage  by  her  display  of  fear.  However  they 
would  scarcely  attack  her  under  any  circum- 
stances before  she  became  exhausted,  and  he  con- 
fidently expected  to  overtake  her  long  before  that 
time  arrived.  But  as  he  ran  the  consciousness 
was  gradually  forced  upon  him  that  he  had 
greatly  underestimated  the  agility  and  lung  ca- 
pacity of  this  free-moving  girl  of  the  pines,  for  a 
full  twenty  minutes  had  already  passed  and  it 
was  with  difficulty  that  he  could  longer  distin- 
guish her  footprints  in  the  rapidly  settling  dark- 
ness of  the  mid-winter  sky.  He  was  becoming 
alarmed  lest  he  should  lose  her  trail  altogether  in 
the  gloom  when  the  tracks,  running  fairly  against 
a  tree  that  had  fallen  and  lodged  in  the  top  of  its 
fellows,  stopped  abruptly. 

Stepping  beyond  the  tree  he  searched  for  their 
continuation  but  the  snow  was  trackless  and  he 
paused  in  bewilderment.  And  just  as  he  had 
reached  the  conclusion  that  she  must  have  van- 
ished into  the  air,  from  above  him  there  came  a 


98  BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS 

small  voice  half  plaintive,  half  mocking,  that 
called  "Here  I  am,  mister,"  and  looking  up  he 
saw  a  snow-shrouded  figure  huddled  in  the  slant- 
ing tree  top  a  dozen  feet  above  his  head.  She  had 
become  tired  from  her  long  run,  chanced  across 
this  fallen  trunk  with  its  comparatively  easy 
incline  and  scrambled  up  it  to  safety  among  the 
branches,  and  he  smiled  to  himself  at  the  figure 
he  must  have  cut  from  her  viewpoint  as  he  crept 
around  beneath  her  with  his  nose  almost  in  the 
snow.  He  seated  himself  upon  a  log  and  looked 
up  at  her. 

"Well!"  he  exclaimed  after  a  moment's  pause. 

"Quite  well — thank  you,"  came  the  answer  to 
the  accompaniment  of  a  chattering  laugh. 
"Only  somewhat  chilly.  Won't  you  come 
up?" 

"Better  come  down.  It's  snowing  up  there," 
he  suggested.  She  shook  her  head  and  a 
feathery  puff  toppled  from  her  red  toboggan 
cap  onto  his  upturned  face. 

"No.     I  am  afraid  of  the  wolves." 

He  answered  her  with  a  trace  of  the  half 
mockery  with  which  she  had  first  saluted  him. 
"Is  it  possible?  Now  do  you  know  from  the 


BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS  99 

way  they  ran  I  had  supposed  you  were  chasing 
them."  Then  arising  he  went  clambering  up  the 
incline,  his  rubbers  gripping  the  rough  surface 
firmly,  and  reaching  her  held  out  his  hand. 
"Come  with  me,"  he  commanded. 

For  an  instant  she  peered  into  his  face  through 
the  semi-darkness  and  then  uttered  a  little  tri- 
umphant laugh.  "I  thought  I  recognized  your 
voice.  I  know  you  in  spite  of  your  disguise. 
You  are  the  one  who — " 

"Yes,  I  know,"  he  interrupted  a  trifle  im- 
patiently because  of  the  lateness  of  the  afternoon 
and  the  real  necessity  that  they  lose  no  time. 
"The  last  time  I  saw  you  I  helped  you  up. 
Now  I  am  going  to  help  you  down.  Take  my 
hand  and  feel  your  way  with  your  feet.  If  you 
slip  I'll  catch  you." 

"Then  you  may  be  sure  I  will  not  slip." 

He  secretly  wished  that  she  would,  but  noth- 
ing came  of  it  and  a  moment  later  they  were 
upon  the  snow.  Beneath  the  closely  woven 
canopy  of  evergreens  it  was  almost  dark,  and  it 
was  only  after  a  sharp  search  that  the  man  was 
able  to  ferret  out  his  tracks  of  five  minutes  be- 
fore. "Keep  close  behind  me  and  tell  me  how 


100  BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS 

it  happened  as  we  go,"  he  suggested  as  he  started 
back  along  the  way  they  had  come. 

She  followed  him.  "I  had  gone  over  to  visit 
Mrs.  Evers  whose  husband  has  a  small  farm  over 
east.  She  is  the  only  woman  I  know  around 
here  and  we  visit  back  and  forth  sometimes.  It 
is  only  three  miles  from  Archer  to  their  house 
and  I  can  walk  it  in  an  hour  when  the  trails  are 
good.  We  did  not  notice  the  storm  coming  this 
afternoon  and  I  talked  on  until  the  snow  began 
to  fall.  Then  I  came  as  quickly  as  I  could  to 
get  dinner  for  daddy.  I  had  not  gone  far  when 
I  met  some  wolves.  They  were  very  impudent 
and  did  not  get  out  of  my  way  when  I  ordered 
them  to.  I  "shooed"  them  and  shook  my  skirts 
but  they  only  grinned  at  me — such  a  disagreea- 
ble grin.  Then  I  screamed  in  their  faces  as  loud 
as  I  could  and  they  howled  most  dreadfully.  I 
must  confess  that  I  became  a  little  frightened 
and  thought  I  would  go  down  the  deer  trail  and 
go  around  them,  but  they  came  along  on  each 
side  of  me  until  all  I  could  think  of  was  Little 
Red  Riding  Hood.  I  was  watching  them  in- 
stead of  the  trail  and  tripped  and  fell  and  they 


BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS  101 

acted  so  pleased  to  see  me  down,  as  if  they  were 
going  to  leap  on  me,  that  I  jumped  up  and  ran 
as  fast  as  I  could  although  I  knew  it  was  foolish. 
They  kept  on  trotting  beside  me  and  when  I  got 
to  that  tree  I  climbed  it  and  waited  for  you  to 
come.  It  was  their  eyes  and  teeth  that  frightened 
me — they  were  perfectly  wolfish." 

"You  waited  for  me!"  wondered  the  stooping 
leader.  "What  on  earth  made  you  think  I 
would  come  ?" 

She  chuckled.  "Well,  of  course  I  meant  'you' 
in  the  plural  sense  of  all  mankind.  I  knew 
some  of  you  men  would  come  and  drive  them 
away  because  women  don't  get  eaten  up  by 
wolves  any  more  to  amount  to  much.  Where  do 
you  suppose  they  are  now?" 

Wilson  halted  and  looked  about,  then  drawing 
his  clasp  knife  cut  a  stout  sapling  to  the  length 
of  a  staff  and  began  trimming  it.  "Oh,  sneak- 
ing off  in  the  brush  somewhere.  They  won't 
come  near  us,"  he  rejoined  absently.  The 
girl's  eyes  were  watching  him  narrowly. 

"Then  why  are  you  cutting  that  cudgel?" 

"For  a  walking  stick.     The  wolves  are  the 


102  BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS 

least  of  my  troubles.  But  there  is  something 
else  that  is  really  worrying  me.  I  can't  find  the 
trail." 

"Then  we  are  lost,"  she  exclaimed  with  a  mat- 
ter-of-fact air  that  caused  him  to  turn  his  face 
away  to  hide  its  smile. 

"No,  it  is  not  quite  as  bad  as  that.  We  are 
not  lost — we  are  right  here.  The  trail  is  lost." 

"Then  I  suppose  we  will  have  to  sit  here  in 
the  snow  all  night."  Wilson  negatived  with  his 
head. 

"We  will  have  to  do  a  good  deal  more  than 
that.  Hear  those  pines  rustling — feel  that  puff 
of  wind!  It  is  coming  from  the  north  and  that 
means  it  is  going  to  be  bitterly  cold  before  long. 
We  will  have  to  keep  on  moving,  at  least  as  long 
as  we  can  see  well  enough  to  keep  from  run- 
ning into  things.  Then,  we  may  strike  some 
old  tote  road  that  leads  to  town.  Tell  me  if 
you  get  too  tired  and  we  will  stop  and  build  a 
fire.  But  we  had  better  keep  on  going  until 
you  are  pretty  well  played  out.  Besides,  your 
father  will  be  rather  worried,  you  know." 

"Yes,  let  us  hurry  on,"  she  replied,  now  ser- 
ious for  the  first  time.  But  though  they  made 


BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS  103 

all  speed  possible  their  progress  was  but  half 
as  rapid  as  it  had  been  before  wandering  from 

Sthe  trail.  Brush  heaps  barred  their  way  and 
fallen  trees  too  high  for  her  to  clamber  con- 
fronted them  at  nearly  every  turn,  while  through 
the  gloom  and  falling  snow  they  could  scarcely 
see  a  yard  in  advance.  Half  an  hour  passed, 
and  the  labored  breathing  of  the  girl  as  she  fol- 
lowed in  his  tracks  bespeaking  a  pace  too  rapid, 
he  was  at  the  point  of  calling  a  halt  when  the 
woods  broke  before  them  and  overhead  he  saw, 
not  the  black  roof  of  the  forest,  but  the  misty 
gray  of  open  sky,  while  close  at  hand  and  ris- 
ing before  him  in  their  shrouds  were  the  ghostly 
shapes  of  half  a  dozen  buildings.  With  a  deep- 
ly-drawn breath  of  relief  he  led  her  on  until  all 
at  once  there  loomed  before  them  that  for  which 
he  had  hoped.  Scattered  throughout  the 
pineries  are  scores  of  abandoned  logging  camps, 
and  it  was  upon  one  of  these  long-deserted  places 
of  former  industry  that  they  had  chanced  in  their 
blind  rambles.  Joyfully  the  leader  struck  a 
match  and  bade  her  follow  him. 

The  refuse  of  a  deserted  kitchen  littered  the 
floor.     Battered    pots    and   pans    unworth    the 


•104.  BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS 

carrying  away,  a  "spider"  with  a  broken  handle, 
barrels  and  shrunken  pails  confronted  him,  but 
by  the  aid  of  more  matches  he  saw  that  the 
wood-box  was  well  filled.  Selecting  a  piece  of 
pine  for  a  torch  he  lighted  it  and  entered  the 
bunkhouse  with  the  blaze  held  high.  Dis- 
carded blankets,  ragged  but  still  usable  in  case 
of  emergency,  abounded  upon  the  deacon  seats 
and  bunks,  and  the  sight  of  the  mammoth  heater 
in  the  center  of  the  room  brought  him  joy. 
Here  they  could  at  least  be  safe  and  fairly  com- 
fortable until  morning,  and  with  no  further  ill 
coming  from  the  mishap  than  a  night  of  acute 
worry  for  the  girl's  father.  To  start  a  fire  in 
the  heater  was  but  the  work  of  a  smoky  minute, 
and  together  they  seated  themselves  upon  the 
benches  and  watched  the  first  pink  blush  of  the 
roaring  iron  monster  blossom  into  the  red  of  a 
rose.  Then  arousing  himself  and  searching 
further  with  his  torch,  the  man  found  a  lantern 
with  a  broken  chimney  containing  nearly  half 
a  candle  within  it,  and  this  he  lighted  and  set 
upon  the  window  sill  close  beside  her.  Outside 
the  logs  the  forest  was  roaring  like  surf  upon 
a  rock  beach,  and  once  from  out  of  the  heart  of 


BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS  105 

the  woods  there  was  borne  to  them  by  the  whip- 
ping gale  a  howl  that  made  each  look  into  the 
other's  eyes  with  a  meaning  smile.  And  in  truth, 
the  thought  that  two  feet  of  solid  logs  separated 
them  from  all  that  howled  and  roared  without 
was  cause  for  smiling. 

The  snow  fell  faster.  Whirled  past  the 
lighted  window  by  the  growing  blizzard  the 
flakes  seemed  phosphorescent  streaks  that 
merged  with  clouds  of  dim,  meteor-like  dust  as 
the  wind  picked  up  whole  snow-banks  bodily  and 
hurled  them  by.  Although  it  was  still  but  early 
evening,  beyond  the  glow  of  the  candle  the  out- 
side world  was  but  a  snow-swept  darkness,  yet 
within  the  narrow  light  circle  where  the  snow- 
bound pair  sat  the  rude  corner  was  almost  in- 
viting. Neither  woman  nor  man  had  spoken 
for  many  minutes;  he  sitting  with  his  eyes  fast- 
ened upon  the  snow  gusts  that  whirled  by  the 
pane,  and  she  with  her  chin  in  her  palms  and  an 
expression  of  wistfulness  in  her  eyes,  that  were 
overhung  and  shaded  by  long  dark  lashes  as 
ferns  overhang  and  shade  deep  forest  pools. 
Her  lips  were  tightly  closed  and  her  forehead 
wrinkled — in  fact  her  whole  attitude  so 


106  BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS 

thought-bound  that  the  man  turning  from  the 
snowflakes  to  her  became  instantly  inquisitive. 

"You  seem  to  be  thinking  very  hard  about 
something,"  he  ventured  at  last. 

"And  I  am,"  she  rejoined  quickly. 

"May  I  ask  of  what?" 

"You  may.  I  am  thinking  of  my  stomach. 
It  is  a  vacuum!" 

He  got  upon  his  feet,  suddenly  realizing  that 
he  also  wished  very  much  to  eat.  "If  you  will 
come  with  me  we  will  forage,"  he  said.  In- 
stantly she  was  at  his  side  and  together  they 
crossed  the  gale-swept  passageway  and  entered 
the  cook  shanty.  There  she  took  the  lantern 
from  him  and  held  it  high  while  he  searched  the 
shelves  among  the  odds  and  ends,  bringing  forth 
from  time  to  time  hidden  treasures;  first  a  can 
of  tomatoes  that  had  been  overlooked  by  the  de- 
parted occupants  and  upon  which  they  pounced 
greedily  and  disputed  as  to  who  should  have  the 
larger  share.  Next  followed  a  few  spoonfuls  of 
salt  caked  in  the  bottom  of  a  bag,  and  carefully 
hoarding  this  they  descended  to  the  root  cellar 
where  they  found  a  dozen  potatoes  not  much  the 
worse  for  age,  as  many  onions  in  fair  repair  and 


BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS  107 

a  portion  of  a  smoked  ham,  mold-encrusted  with- 
out, but  still  wholesome  about  the  bone.  All 
these  treasures  they  bore  aloft  and  scattered  upon 
the  long  table  beside  the  salt  and  tomatoes  as  the 
gross  results  of  the  search.  From  out  of  the  tin 
litter  he  selected  a  few  of  the  least  battered 
dishes,  bent  them  back  into  a  semblance  of  shape, 
and  having  scoured  them  thoroughly  with  snow 
he  filled  one  from  a  drift  and  set  it  upon  the 
stove. 

"Good  cook?"  he  inquired  anxiously. 

"Magnificent." 

He  sincerely  hoped  that  she  was,  for  the  in- 
adequacy of  larder  and  utensils  demanded  that 
cunning  hands  should  do  the  ministering.  With 
his  pocket  knife  he  opened  the  tomato  can,  while 
the  girl  scrubbed  the  potatoes  and  onions  into 
cleanliness.  Then  he  sliced  the  ham  under  her 
directions  and  watched  her  admiringly  as  with 
sleeves  tucked  up  she  hovered  about  the  stove 
with  testing  fork.  But  at  the  end  of  what 
seemed  a  small  eternity,  potatoes  and  ham, 
onions  and  tomatoes  passed  her  rigid  inspection, 
and  with  each  dish  served  hot  and  hunger  in- 
spiring them  they  sat  down  to  the  feasting  board; 


108  BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS 

he  at  the  end  of  the  long  table  like  a  feudal  lord 
within  the  great  banquet  hall  of  his  rough  castle ; 
she  at  his  right  as  lady  over  all,  his  faithful  ally 
and  wise  counselor.  Then  they  ate,  and  ate. 

She  asked  him  how  he  liked  her  cooking,  pur- 
posely letting  her  long  lashes  fall  and  coquetting 
with  an  onion  as  though  it  had  been  the  cherry 
at  the  bottom  of  a  glass.  The  enthusiasm  of  his 
reply  was  boundless  as  his  heavily  laden  fork 
paused  midway  in  its  upward  flight.  "Im- 
mensely. Never  have  I  tasted  its  equal,  even  in 
alley  chop  houses  whose  fame  has  gone  around 
the  world."  He  ceased  speaking  abruptly,  for 
the  long  lashes  had  flown  upward  and  she  was 
looking  at  him  steadily. 

"I  did  not  know  that  road  monkeys  dined  at 
such  places,"  she  returned  with  a  queer  smile  and 
a  slight  emphasis  upon  the  obnoxious  title.  The 
man  flushed,  self  angry  at  his  slip. 

"They  don't,"  he  muttered. 

"Then  you  have  not  always  been  a  road 
monkey,"  she  breathed  as  if  greatly  relieved. 
"What  were  you  before  you  became  one?" 

"Leave  off  the  'road'  and  you  have  your  an- 
swer." The  tinge  of  sharpness  in  his  reply  told 


BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS  109 

her  that  the  question  had  annoyed  him  and  her 
enjoyment  grew  accordingly.  Deliberately  she 
baited  him. 

"Then  I  suppose  you  used  to  frequent  such 
places  in  your  salad  college  days  before  your 
rich  father  disowned  you  with  a  sixpence  because 
of  your  reckless  eating  debts.  That  is  the  way 
it  usually  happens,  you  know.  Only  instead  of 
going  west  as  a  cowboy  to  later  become  a  great 
cattleman,  you  came  north  to  become  a  rich  road 
monkey."  Her  smile  was  of  the  friendliest  and 
her  inflections  the  most  innocent,  but  the  taunt 
in  her  eyes  challenged  the  impatience  that  had 
been  behind  his  last  words.  He  became  nettled. 

"You  have  guessed  wonderfully.  But  of 
course  those  were  freshman  days  for  me  and  you 
were  preparing  for  Vassar.  I  think  I  remem- 
ber meeting  you.  A  band  of  us  escaped  from 
our  reservation  one  evening  and  came  over  to 
your  town,  and  by  some  wonderful  coincidence 
fell  in  with  your  bevy.  We  all  took  the  war 
path  together.  The  fearful  ice  cream  orgie  that 
followed  ruined  me." 

She  nodded  in  the  most  matter-of-fact  way 
possible.  "Of  course.  I  remember  you  dis- 


(110  BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS 

tinctly  now.  You  were  a  great  athlete  or  some- 
thing or  other,  and  when  our  j  oint  war  party  was 
discovered — goodness  how  fast  you  ran." 

"Almost  as  fast  as  though  I  had  been  chasing 
a  wolf,"  he  returned  maliciously. 

She  smiled  sweetly.  "Much  faster.  Did  you 
run  all  the  way  up  here?" 

He  refused  to  answer,  and  during  the  rest  of 
the  meal  ate  with  few  words  uttered,  while  the 
girl  wondering1  if  she  had  really  wounded  him 
watched  him  covertly.  The  meal  finished  he 
washed  the  dishes  for  her,  and  as  there  was  no 
cloth  at  hand,  dried  them  by  turning  them  up- 
side down  over  the  stove.  She  was  still  sitting 
on  the  bench  before  the  table  and  he  saw  her 
endeavor  to  hide  a  yawn. 

"I  will  get  a  couple  of  blankets  and  sleep  here 
in  the  cook's  bunk  by  the  stove.  You  take  the 
bunkhouse  and  the  lantern,"  he  said.  She 
nodded  her  approval,  admitting  that  she  was 
tired  and  arose  promptly.  Screening  the  lan- 
tern from  the  wind  of  the  passageway  he  es- 
corted her  to  the  adjoining  building,  hung  the 
light  upon  a  peg  and  gathering  up  his  blankets, 
stepped  back  to  the  entrance.  She  was  standing 


BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS  111 

by  the  heater,  her  back  towards  him,  her  soft 
hair  glistening  beneath  the  light  as  he  paused 
upon  the  threshold. 

"I  can  only  hope  that  you  will  sleep  soundly. 
Rap  upon  the  door  of  the  cook  shanty  should 
you  become  alarmed.  But  of  course  there  can 
be  nothing  to  alarm  you." 

She  told  him  that  she  would  and  he  passed 
without.  "Then  we  will  meet  at  the  breakfast 
table.  Good-night." 

"Good-night." 


CHAPTER  VI 

MORNING  came,  gray  morning,  with  the  wind 
fled  into  the  south  but  the  snow  still  falling 
heavily.  Barbara  was  preparing  the  morning 
meal  from  the  remnants  of  the  night  before  when 
Wilson  came  into  the  cook  shanty,  snow  covered, 
from  a  short  scouting  expedition.  They  break- 
fasted as  they  had  supped,  discussing  the  situa- 
tion pro  and  con.  The  man  summarized  condi- 
tions. 

"It  has  been  snowing  like  this  for  eighteen 
hours  and  it  is  now  nearly  knee-deep  on  the 
level,  and  the  Lord  only  knows  its  depth  where 
the  drifts  have  formed.  Anyway,  they  have 
climbed  to  the  eaves  of  this  very  house.  I  might 
be  able  to  get  through  the  snow  as  far  as  Archer 
by  taking  my  time  and  picking  my  route,  but 
I  don't  believe  any  woman  could  last  long  in 
the  kind  of  going  that  is  between  here  and  town. 
So  there  it  is  and  here  we  are." 

"And  just  where  is  'here'?" 
112 


BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS  113 

"I  don't  know  exactly,  but  I  have  recovered 
my  bearings  to  a  certain  extent.  I  should  guess 
that  'here'  is  not  over  five  miles  from  your  home 
as  the  crow  flies.  But  it  would  be  considerably 
further  along  the  route  one  would  have  to  pick 
to  get  around  things." 

"You  know  the  right  direction,  then,  should 
you  decide  to  start?" 

"Approximately.  I  think  I  could  hit  it  close 
enough  for  all  practical  purposes.  But  it  might 
take  me  all  day  to  make  it,  and  that  would  leave 
you  alone  meanwhile  and  nearly  all  to-night 
while  they  were  coming  back  after  you."  The 
girl  lost  no  time  in  expressing  her  views  on  that 
subject. 

"I  would  not  stay  here  alone  that  length  of 
time  if  the  snows  were  as  deep  as  the  deluge.  I 
know  I  would  be  safe  enough,  but  the  loneliness 
of  it  would  be  unendurable.  I  would  rather 
flounder  through  the  drifts  until  I  become  ex- 
hausted, rest  for  a  while  and  then  go  on  again 
until  I  finally  reached  somewhere.  And  besides, 
poor  daddy  will  be  nearly  insane  until  he  gets  me 
back.  We  must  try  and  break  through." 

The  man  weighed  matters  upon  his  mental 


114  BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS 

scales.  It  might  be  days  before  the  searching 
party,  now  undoubtedly  upon  its  way,  happened 
to  stumble  upon  this  half-forgotten  camp  far 
from  any  direct  trail,  while  as  for  himself,  as 
able-bodied  a  man  as  the  woods  knew  to  sit  help- 
lessly within  doors  and  wait  to  be  rescued  from 
a  snowbank  would  not  only  be  the  superlative 
of  ridiculous,  but  would  make  him  forever  the 
laughing  mark  of  the  woods.  Still,  the  situation 
had  its  difficulties.  Inasmuch  as  she  had  de- 
clared that  she  would  not  remain  behind,  he  must 
take  her  with  him.  Yet  he  scarcely  saw  how  he 
could  accomplish  that.  It  all  depended  upon 
her  strength  and  stamina. 

They  finished  their  meal  and  arose,  Wilson 
buttoning  his  mackinaw  closely  about  him  and 
bidding  her  prepare  for  the  journey,  which  she 
did  by  a  slight  shortening  of  her  walking  skirt 
and  putting  on  her  cap  and  mittens.  Then 
rolling  up  the  most  serviceable  of  the  blankets 
which  he  slung  over  his  shoulder  and  thrusting 
a  piece  of  meat  and  a  couple  of  boiled  potatoes 
into  his  pocket,  they  plunged  waist-deep  into 
drift  that  lay  just  beyond  the  passageway. 

Save  in  narrow  areas  where  the  gale  howling 


BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS  115 

down  the  forest  alleyways  had  swept  the  snow 
aside  like  a  stiff  broom  and  left  the  lower  growth 
exposed,  the  brush  had  disappeared  entirely,  or 
at  best  stood  with  but  its  tips  above  the  surface 
like  the  fingers  of  a  drowning  man  who  clutches 
at  the  empty  air.  Smothering  masses  of  feath- 
ery softness  had  transformed  the  dark  green  roof 
of  the  forest  into  a  blur  of  white  from  which  puff 
balls  fell  noiselessly.  The  blacksmith  shop,  the 
lowest  of  the  buildings,  was  but  a  mound;  the 
clearing  a  spotless,  smooth  billowed  sea.  Wil- 
son, two  yards  in  advance  of  the  girl,  plowed  a 
deep  trail  around  the  drifts  while  she,  hampered 
by  skirts  and  inferior  length  of  limbs  followed 
laboriously.  When,  as  often  happened,  he 
floundered  into  a  hole  he  turned  about,  flound- 
ered out  again  and  chose  another  course,  going 
frequently  back  to  her  side  to  assist  her  after 
a  fall.  It  was  severe  work  even  for  him  with 
his  strength  and  leg  reach;  for  the  girl  it  was 
next  to  impossible.  Her  deep  breathings  were 
distinct  to  his  ears,  and  several  times  he  paused 
to  ask  her  if  she  would  not  stop  for  a  brief  rest, 
but  each  time  she  said  "No"  and  courageously 
struggled  on.  An  hour  of  uninterrupted  wad- 


116  BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS 

ing  passed  and  he  estimated  that  they  had  put 
a  mile  behind  them,  when  an  exclamation  from 
behind  caused  him  to  wheel  about  and  he  saw 
that  she  had  again  fallen.  Instantly  he  was  at 
her  side.  But  so  acute  had  her  exhaustings  of 
breath  become  that  instead  of  assisting  her  to 
her  feet  he  forced  her  to  remain  sitting  in  the 
snow.  And  though  both  were  perspiring  freely 
from  their  exertions  as  they  halted,  scarcely  a 
minute  had  passed  in  inactivity  before  the  razor- 
edged  air  had  cut  through  their  clothing  and  the 
chill  moisture  of  their  skins  had  set  them  shiver- 
ing. He  drew  the  blanket  from  his  shoulders, 
wrapped  it  snugly  about  her,  and  commanding 
that  she  sit  still  for  a  while  went  slowly  ahead 
making  a  trail.  Fifteen  minutes  later  she  had 
caught  up  with  him. 

Floundering  and  wallowing,  halting  briefly  at 
times  that  she  might  regain  her  breath,  they 
struggled  on  until  noon  came  with  perhaps  half 
the  distance  covered.  But  the  girl  despite  her  de- 
termination and  endurance  was  manifestly  walk- 
ing upon  the  verge  of  complete  exhaustion.  His 
sympathy  for  her  was  great,  and  that  she  man- 
aged to  retain  her  cheerfulness  to  the  extent  that 


BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS  117 

she  did,  astonished  him.  Physically  she  might 
collapse  and  mentally  she  might  despair,  yet  the 
smile  was  almost  as  ready  upon  her  lips  as  when 
they  had  sat  at  ease  behind  the  log  walls  of  the 
camp. 

He  scooped  the  snow  from  a  fallen  trunk  and 
they  seated  themselves  upon  it,  and  here  they  ate 
the  chilled  lunch  and  rested  for  the  better  part 
of  an  hour.  The  food  and  respite  brought  them 
new  strength  and  a  pipeful  of  tobacco  comforted 
the  man  mightily,  but  with  dread  of  the  darkness 
and  a  long  night  in  the  snow  upon  them  they 
arose  and  stiffly  plowed  on.  For  another  hour 
they  made  as  good  speed  as  they  had  averaged 
during  the  morning,  but  at  the  end  of  that  time, 
although  she  struggled  her  bravest,  nature  began 
to  fail  her  and  the  girl  lagged  until  the  pace  de- 
generated to  little  better  than  a  crawl.  At  three 
o'clock,  and  but  a  moment  after  she  had  once 
more  flatly  refused  to  either  pause  or  permit  him 
to  assist  her,  she  sank  limply  in  her  tracks  with- 
out a  sound,  her  head  pillowed  upon  the  snow. 
Wilson  had  long  feared  that  this  minute  would 
come,  and  now  was  beside  her  almost  before  she 
struck  the  yielding  mass. 


118  BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS 

He  kneeled  and  rested  her  head  in  the  crook 
of  his  elbow.  Her  eyes  were  half  closed,  her 
breath  coming  in  gasps  and  her  bosom  heaving 
spasmodically.  He  withdrew  the  arm  that  sup- 
ported her  and  her  head  toppled  against  his 
breast  where  she  lay  utterly  spent,  nearly  un- 
conscious and  incapable  of  other  than  involuntary 
movement.  He  drew  the  blanket  close  around 
her,  as  he  had  done  earlier  in  the  day,  and  mak- 
ing her  as  comfortable  as  he  could  scanned  the 
silent,  trackless  forest  that  lay  in  front  of  him. 
He  did  not  think  that  it  could  be  more  than  a 
mile  to  her  house,  but  she  would  not  be  capable 
of  further  exertion  for  hours — perhaps  days — 
and  the  early  darkness  was  already  beginning 
to  gather.  To  leave  her  alone  in  the  snow  while 
he  went  on,  trusting  to  chance  to  get  back  to  her 
before  she  froze  was  not  to  be  thought  of  twice; 
while  to  carry  her  the  distance  that  lay  between 
where  he  kneeled  and  Archer  would  be  an  almost 
Herculean  feat  under  the  conditions  that  existed, 
yet,  either  he  must  do  it  or  else,  building  a  fire, 
watch  over  her  through  the  fifteen  hours  inter- 
vening until  morning.  And  to  exposure  like 
that  he  dared  not  risk  her  in  her  exhausted  state. 


BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS  119 

Most  of  all  things  she  needed  food,  hot  drinks, 
the  warmth  and  comfort  of  a  bed,  and  these  he 
decided  she  should  have  if  human  effort  could 
take  her  to  them.  Could  he  have  slung  her  over 
his  back  after  the  manner  of  an  Indian  woman 
carrying  a  papoose  his  labor  would  have  been 
lightened  a  half,  but  he  had  no  means  of  doing 
that,  so  he  raised  her  in  his  arms  and  started  on. 
At  the  end  of  two  hundred  yards  she  opened 
her  eyes  and  feebly  begged  to  be  allowed  to  make 
her  own  way,  and  in  order  to  humor  her  and 
convince  her  of  the  folly  of  the  request  he  placed 
her  upon  her  feet.  Instantly  her  strengthless 
limbs  gave  way  and  only  his  arm  about  her  waist 
prevented  her  from  falling.  In  this  position  he 
held  her  while  he  took  a  moment's  breathing 
spell,  after  which  he  raised  her  and  despite  her 
protesting  struggles  carried  her  on,  seeing  that 
she  had  fallen  asleep  in  the  midst  of  her  assur- 
ances that  she  was  now  able  to  walk  again.  He 
did  not  succeed  in  getting  quite  as  far  this  time 
as  upon  the  first  effort.  The  clutch  of  the  snow 
was  beginning  to  tell  upon  him  and  the  dead 
weight  of  her  body  tugged  at  his  arms  unceas- 
ingly. A  hundred  and  fifty  wading  steps  he 


120  BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS 

made  and  then  was  forced  to  lay  her  gently  upon 
the  snow  until  returning  breath  and  strength 
promised  him  brief  aid  again.  So  on  and  on  in 
steadily  diminishing  stages,  his  breath  labored 
and  painful,  his  knees  trembling  and  his  arms 
threatening  to  leave  their  sockets  beneath  the 
numbing  strain,  Wilson  toiled  as  gamely  as  he 
had  long  ago  in  that  never-to-be-forgotten  run. 
Time  and  again  despair  was  upon  him  when  after 
a  breathing  spell  he  stumbled  about  in  feeble 
effort  to  raise  her,  yet  each  time  the  more  strongly 
recurring  fear  of  a  night  in  the  snow,  coupled 
with  the  thought  of  her  own  dauntless  courage 
that  had  driven  her  on  until  unconsciousness 
came,  nerved  his  benumbed  muscles  and  brought 
him  eventual  success.  He  had  never  seen  a 
woman  of  her  courage  before;  had  never  admired 
one  half  as  much.  And  while  her  beauty  was 
beyond  all  controversy,  it  was  fully  matched  by 
her  indomitable  courage  and  cheerfulness  under 
circumstances  when  many  a  man  would  have  laid 
down  beaten  to  whimpering  non-resistance. 
Well  he  knew  how  miserable  she  had  been  when 
he  had  found  her  at  nightfall  roosting  in  the  tree- 
top  with  the  bitter  cold  of  darkness  upon  her 


BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS  121 

and  the  gaunt  brutes  sniffing  at  her  from  so  close 
at  hand.  Yet  her  first  utterance  upon  seeing 
him  was  a  laugh  forced  from  between  teeth  that 
chattered  with  cold  and  fear.  Then,  too,  their 
situation  in  the  deserted  camp  had  been  trying 
to  her — would  have  been  to  any  woman  of  re- 
finement— yet  she  had  turned  it  into  a  jest,  and 
had  carried  the  jest  through  to  the  end  without 
faltering.  And  last  of  all  her  struggle  through 
the  snow  that  very  day!  Well,  she  had  taught 
him  a  lesson  which  he  would  always  remember, 
for  he,  too,  would  hereafter  meet  the  inevitable 
with  better  grace.  Why  not  repentance  with  a 
smile  as  well  as  with  a  frown?  Blessed  be  she 
for  her  teachings. 

The  red  sun  sinking  behind  a  ridge  left  him 
leaning  against  a  tree  with  his  right  arm  hooked 
around  it  for  support  as  his  left  encircled  his 
burden.  He  had  done  his  best,  but  the  darkness 
was  but  a  matter  of  minutes  and  the  forest 
seemed  as  endless  as  at  the  beginning.  He  drew 
off  his  mittens  and  felt  of  her  cheeks  and  wrists. 
They  were  cold  and  he  sat  down  at  once  and  be- 
gan chafing  them  as  he  gazed  at  the  unutterable 
weariness  of  her  face  with  its  sweeping  lashes 


122  BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS 

now  resting  upon  her  cheeks.  Forgetful  of  his 
own  almost  overwhelming  weariness  his  heart 
went  out  to  her  in  deepest  sympathy.  "Poor 
girl,"  was  his  thought.  "How  some  man  will 
long  for  you  one  of  these  days.  How  he  will 
strive  for  you,  and  if  he  wins — gods!  What  a 
wife  he  will  get." 

The  chafings  warmed  her  wrists  and  he  looked 
around  in  a  last  survey.  It  was  too  dark  for 
him  to  carry  her  any  distance  further,  yet  could 
he  reach  the  other  side  of  the  ridge  upon  which 
they  now  stood  they  would  be  sheltered  from  the 
north  wind  and  there  he  would  make  his  night 
fire.  Once  more  he  tried  to  lift  her  but  his  legs 
seemed  to  have  frozen  stiff  in  his  brief  interval 
of  kneeling  and  he  had  to  exert  all  his  strength 
to  arise  alone.  And  at  the  thought  of  how  short 
the  distance  was  to  a  more  sheltered  place  and 
how  little  strength  it  would  take  to  bear  her 
there,  a  feeling  almost  of  savagery  arose  within 
him  at  his  impotence.  "I'll  make  it  if  it  kills 
me,"  he  muttered,  and  pulling  her  up  almost 
hand  over  hand  he  got  her  free  of  the  snow. 
Then  like  a  drunken  man  he  went  staggering  on 
in  his  last  effort  of  the  day.  And  then  as  he 


BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS  123 

reached  the  summit,  the  trees  opened  before  him 
as  though  there  was  no  such  thing  as  a  forest 
upon  earth  and  the  half  dozen  lights  of  Archer 
twinkled  close  before  his  eyes. 

Five  minutes  later  a  man,  done  to  his  last  rod 
and  minute,  dropped  a  heavily  sleeping  woman 
into  a  chair  and  threw  himself  at  full  length  upon 
the  counter  before  the  staring  eyes  of  the  store- 
keeper. And  while  the  latter  was  still  rushing 
excitedly  about  in  a  flurry  of  indecision  the  door 
was  flung  open  and  Findlay,  closely  followed  by 
half  a  dozen  men,  entered  from  a  long,  bootless 
day  among  the  drifts;  weary  beyond  telling  but 
calling  (or  lanterns  that  the  search  might  be  re- 
newed. The  jaws  of  the  logger  were  set  like 
the  jaws  of  a  trap;  his  face  stamped  with  mental 
agony,  his  eyes  mechanically  flicking  the  store 
as  all  day  they  had  flicked  the  snow  mounds, 
horror-filled  lest  they  should  find  that  for  which 
they  searched;  agonized  lest  they  should  not. 
Half  way  down  the  aisle  he  saw  the  girl  and 
stared  at  her  for  an  instant;  then  with  a  hoarse 
shout  sprang  forward  and  took  her  face  between 
his  palms.  Finding  it  warm  he  lifted  her  as 
though  she  had  been  a  child  and  broke  into  a  wild 


BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS 

waltz  about  the  room  as  he  hugged  her  to  him. 
Her  eyelids  lifted  heavily  and  at  the  sight  of  the 
whiskered  face  above  her  she  smiled  contentedly 
as  with  one  hand  wandering  upward  she  reached 
and  patted  the  cheek.  Her  words  came  drows- 

iiy- 

"Take  me  home  and  let  me  sleep.  I'm  aw- 
fully tired,  and  besides — "  her  eyes  slowly  turned 
to  Wilson  and  seemed  to  be  laughing  at  him — 
"besides  I've  been  hugged  enough  for  one  day, 
daddy." 


CHAPTER  VII 

THROUGH  the  week  following  the  Christmas 
carousal  and  the  heavy  fall  of  snow  the  crew  of 
Camp  5  toiled  mightily.  As  if  in  penance  for 
their  day  of  strenuous  relaxation  the  complex- 
muscled,  simple-minded  sons  of  the  forest  daily 
worked  miracles  of  endurance.  The  camp  was 
buried  to  its  eaves  and  the  glistening  ice  road  lay 
buried  half  a  fathom  deep.  Twenty-four  lung- 
ing horses  fought  their  way  to  Archer  in  the  van 
of  the  first  hastily  constructed  snow  boat,  a 
stanch  craft  with  a  "V"  shaped  nose  heavily 
ballasted  with  logs  to  give  it  draught,  and  which 
plunged  through  the  snow  billows  leaving  behind 
it  a  broad,  foam-like  wake.  A  score  of  shovelers 
floundered  ahead  of  it,  digging  the  horses  out 
of  the  depths  when  the  course  grew  too  rough,  or 
leaping  aboard  the  craft  for  a  ride  when  the  sail- 
ing was  fair  and  the  boat  riding  easily.  The 
trip  although  only  eight  miles  in  length  used 
up  an  eighteen-hour  day,  but  the  plow  had  left 

125 


126  BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS 

a  deep  trench  behind  it  and  the  worst  part  of 
the  job  ended  with  the  first  journey.  Then  the 
<erew  that  had  accompanied  the  snow  boat  ate 
and  slept  for  half  a  dozen  hours  in  Archer,  after 
which  they  navigated  the  rough  craft  back  again. 
The  second  round  trip  left  the  road  in  a  usable 
condition.  Wilson,  who  in  the  meantime  had  re- 
turned to  the  camp  and  his  ax,  was  half  the  time 
waist  deep  as  he  swamped. 

But  six  days  and  nights  of  work  like  this  found 
the  camp  in  smooth  running  order  again.  The 
snow  settled  quite  a  bit  of  its  own  accord,  the 
skidways  and  tote  roads  became  packed  and 
solid  and  six  or  seven  o'clock  was  once  more  the 
standard  hour  for  ending  the  day's  toil.  Then 
New  Year's  day  came,  and  although  technically 
recognized  as  a  holiday  it  found  the  men  in  the 
woods  working  practically  as  usual.  But  they 
knocked  off  early  that  afternoon  and  were  gath- 
ered around  the  heater  not  long  after  the  first 
dusk  of  evening.  The  shortness  of  the  day's 
labor  had  left  them  unusually  surcharged  with 
vitality,  and  being  fresh  physically  their  tongues 
moved  with  unwonted  alacrity.  For  a  time  shop 
talk  prevailed,  then  a  chance  remark  caught  each 


BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS  127 

ear  and  straight  as  a  weathercock  points  into  the 
wind  the  conversation  was  directed  to  pure  ro- 
mance. For  the  woodsman  in  his  lighter  moods 
is  a  true  raconteur  and  a  humorist  of  no  mean 
ability.  Of  a  sudden  Winnipeg  plunged  into 
the  midst  of  the  strange  adventures  of  a  cousin 
of  his  upon  the  latter's  first  arrival  in  the  north 
woods. 

"My  couzeen  he  hear  a  woodpeckair  up  a  tree 
mek  a  grand  noise  and  he  say  to  me,  'Pete,  what 
is  it  she'll  go  r-r-rickety  talk  up  ze  tree?' 

'  'Gar,'  say  I.     'Zat  is  ze  gret  American  wood- 
peckair.' 

'  'Ze  gret  American  woodpeckair,'  he  say. 
'Well,  ba'  Cras!  She  got  a  dam  hard  nose.'' 
Were  wolves  and  loup  garous  followed  in  howl- 
ing chorus.  Devil  bats  and  rackaree  bobs  were 
conjured  forth  until  the  listeners  swore  they 
could  hear  the  whistle  of  wings  and  the  scratch 
of  claws.  Imps  and  devils  did  their  turns  and 
vanished,  and  the  plain  skeleton — that  veritable 
backbone  of  all  that  is  supernatural  took  his 
place  in  the  center  of  the  circle.  He  was  intro- 
duced by  "Sourdough"  Casey,  now  but  a  year 
returned  from  the  Alaskan  snows,  who  spat  re- 


128  BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS 

flectively  into  the  distance  as  he  made  response  to 
a  question. 

"Did  I  iver  see  a  ghost?  Wan.  But  it  was 
not  untilt  after  he  was  dead.  Down  in  New- 
foundland where  I  was  born  they  was  as  thick  as 
fleas  on  a  dog;  yit  divil  a  ghost  did  I  iver  lay 
eyes  upon  until  wan  year  ago  come  this  very 
minnit.  'Twas  while  Brady  and  me  was  shackin' 
out  Seminow  way  in  an  ould  hut  by  an  abandoned 
shaft,  and  without  a  human  bein'  within  twinty 
miles  of  us  savin'  two  Frinchmin  what  was  pros- 
pectin'  about  a  mile  beyont.  Wan  avenin' 
Brady  an*  me  goes  over  and  makes  a  party  call 
on  thim.  They  was  frindly  and  dacent  enough 
hi  a  Frinchmin's  way. 

"Says  Brady  as  we  was  about  lavin':  'Come 
over,  byes,  an'  see  us  nixt  Soonday.  We  kape 
house  in  thot  ould  shack  by  the  shaft,  the  bottum 
of  which  is  filt  with  brush.  'Tis  an  ilegant  shack 
with  rale  boards  on  the  floor  an'  a  chimney  like  a 
steeple.'  Mooch  to  our  surprise  they  but  rowlt 
their  eyes  an'  backed  away  from  us  like  scairt 
horses. 

'  'An'  what's  the  matter  with  thim  dagoes  ?' 
wants  to  know  Brady.  'It's  scairt  they  be  of  us, 


BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS  129 

but  what  the  sin  can  it  be — barrin'  your  land- 
scape? Lit's  be  after  askin'  the  dom  pagins.' 
So  we  begin  palaverin'. 

"Well,  by  dint  of  much  loud  talkin'  in  the  sign 
language  we  found  out  about  ut.  Wan  year 
before  two  fellys  had  lived  in  thot  silf same  shack, 
an'  wan  night  somethin'  happened — a  screamin' 
an'  hollerin'  of  blackmail  an'  bloody  murder. 
So  the  nixt  mornin'  over  wint  some  fellys  who 
was  campin'  near  to  find  out  the  meanin'  of  sich 
conduct.  Divil  a  sowl  was  in  the  camp,  but  there 
was  plinty  of  fresh  blood  dried  on  the  floor  an' 
the  ground  was  trampled  outrajus.  Thin  they 
followed  up  the  tracks  an'  there  at  the  bottum 
of  the  shaft  was  the  body  of  wan  of  thim,  dead 
beyont  all  savin',  his  throat  cut  most  reckless. 
So  they  threw  brush  down  to  cover  him  an'  took 
after  the  other  felly.  Niver  did  they  cotch 
him." 

"How  about  the  ghost?"  broke  in  Sturgeon 
Bay  as  Sourdough  stopped  to  relight  his  pipe. 
The  latter  nodded. 

"Yis,  the  ghost!  He  will  appear  prisently. 
So  Brady  and  me  kapes  on  askin'  but  they  only 
humped  their  shoulders  and  wint  away,  lavin' 


130  BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS 

us.  Off  we  goes  full  of  wondermint.  '  'Tis  a 
banshee  they  be  fearin','  says  I,  'an  I'll  not 
be  timptin'  the  divil  by  stayin'  in  thot  shack 
longer.'  But  Brady  only  kapes  on  thinkin'  an' 
we  wint  to  bed.  Along  in  the  shank  of  the  ave- 
nin'  he  wakes  me  up  with  his  elbow :  'Hist,'  says 
he,  'now  listin.' 

"An'  there  in  the  darkness  of  the  shack  I  could 
hear  somewan  walkin'.  The  boards  cracked  un- 
der his  feet  an'  ivery  now  and  thin  he  would 
heave  a  sigh  like  a  steam  ingine. 

'  'Avaunt,  ye  bog-trotter,'  yells  Brady,  throw- 
in'  his  boot  through  the  darkness.  An'  at  that 
there  was  a  shriek  that  lifted  us  clane  onto  the 
floor  wherr  we  stood  shakin'  and  with  our  hair 
risin'  like  the  quills  on  a  porky.  Thin  we  struck 
a  light,  but  niver  a  thing  could  we  see  that  was 
not  what  it  should  be.  But  over  towards  the  ould 
shaft  somethin'  was  wailin'  an'  we  wint  back  to 
bed  and  awaited  devilopments. 

"But  all  was  paceful  as  Palm  Soonday  until 
the  nixt  night.  I  was  sleepin'  with  wan  eye 
opin  an'  I  knew  Brady  was  awake  because  he 
wasn't  snorin'.  Everythin'  was  as  still  as  a 
cimitery,  when  all  at  once  the  floor  began  creak- 


BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS  131 

in'  an'  thin  comes  a  groan  that  curdled  me  sys- 
tim.  'Lit's  pray,'  I  whispers  to  Brady  as  I 
crossed  mysilf.  'I  disremimber  the  openin' 
words  of  a  prayer,  but  you  start  it  off  an'  I'll 
join  in  the  chorus.'  But  Brady  only  chuckled. 

'  'Stop  your  chucklin'  you  blasphemous  go- 
rilla,' says  I.  'Shame  be  upon  you  for  such 
disrespect  in  the  prisence  of  the  departed.' 
Then  Brady  rolls  over  and  faces  me. 

'  'Hould  your  horses  for  a  minit  an'  the  beggar 
will  have  somethin'  to  groan  over.  I  set  a  wolf 
trap  for  him,  bad  luck  to  the  sleep-walkin' 
bogy,'  he  breathes  in  my  ear.  An'  the  words 
was  barely  out  from  his  teeth  than  there  was  a 
snap  an'  a  scream  that  made  my  skin  feel  like  a 
nutmeg  grater.  Around  the  shack  somethin* 
was  flounderin'  and  screamin',  but  the  nixt  min- 
ute it  had  got  outside  and  we  heard  it  clatterin' 
off  into  the  distance.  Thin  up  jumps  Brady, 
grabs  a  lantern  and  follows  the  racket  with  me 
stumblin'  along  after  with  the  sweat  poppin' 
from  my  forehead  like  dew  on  a  lily. 

"Straight  up  to  the  mouth  of  the  shaft  the 
sounds  led  us  and  thin  all  was  silence.  'I  got 
him  all  right,  an'  I'll  have  him  on  exhibition  to- 


132  BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS 

morry,'  grins  Brady.  An'  the  nixt  mornin'  I 
lowers  him  down  the  shaft  with  a  rope  and  he 
throws  the  brush  aside.  An'  there  under  ut  was 
the  skileton  of  a  man  with  a  wolf  trap  still  tight 
to  his  ankle.  'Twas  a  most  unusual  experience." 
The  silence  fell  and  through  the  smoke  Wilson 
watched  them  as  they  puffed  at  their  pipes  stol- 
idly. There  was  no  comment,  no  smile,  not  the 
glance  of  an  eye  to  betoken  the  slightest  discredit 
of  the  story.  A  minute  passed  and  then  Sour- 
dough turned  upon  the  watcher. 

'Tis  yoursilf  we  would  hear  from  nixt,  sor," 
he  announced  with  wheedling  politeness.  "An' 
small  doubt  but  your  words  \vill  be  most  inter- 
estin'."  The  circle  stirred  expectantly.  Just 
who  this  man  of  silence  was  they  had  not  been 
able  to  make  up  their  minds,  but  now  he  was  to 
address  them.  Certainly  he  was  no  woodsman, 
and  it  had  been  this  same  Sourdough  who  had 
been  the  most  persistent  in  demanding,  "Thin 
what  the  divil  is  he?"  As  a  lumberman  he 
ranked  far  beneath  them,  and  they  had  ever  been 
upon  the  alert  to  peer  beneath  his  cloak  of  silence 
to  see  what  manner  of  man  might  be  concealed 
thereunder.  Externally  they  rated  him  as  their 


BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS  133 

inferior,  but  as  to  his  unrevealed  possibilities 
they  had  reserved  judgment.  That  was  because 
silence  is  ever  full  of  potentialities. 

As  for  Wilson  he  now  found  himself  squarely 
cornered.  To  confess  that  he  had  nothing  to 
tell;  that  he  had  had  no  experiences  and  could 
invent  none  worth  listening  to  would  be  to  their 
minds  an  open  confession  of  his  mental  vacuity; 
whereat  the  silence  which  they  had  theretofore 
held  in  mild  respect  would  thereafter  be  regarded 
as  merely  the  shroud  of  stupidity.  He  knew 
very  well  that  he  could  not  romance  up  to  their 
standard,  yet  while  he  was  not  able  to  serve  them 
with  a  pure  lie  garbed  as  truth  he  might  at  least 
serve  them  with  pure  truth  dressed  as  a  lie;  a 
wonderful  truth,  an  astonishing,  marvelous 
truth  infinitely  beyond  their  primitive  compre- 
hensions. Thinking  rapidly  he  happened  to  re- 
call the  weird  experience  of  the  Siberian  ex- 
plorers who  found  buried  in  the  ice  of  a  thousand 
generations  the  frozen  body  of  a  mammoth,  ex- 
humed it,  thawed  the  prehistoric  flesh  before 
their  fires  and  fed  the  dead  tissue  of  thousands 
of  years,  still  quick  with  life-giving  properties, 
to  their  half  famished  dogs.  Nothing  in  the 


134  BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS 

wildest  flights  of  fiction  could  sound  more  unreal 
to  these  crude  minds  than  this  elementary  simple 
scientific  truth — the  living  of  to-day  feeding 
upon  flesh  that  had  walked  the  earth  thousands 
of  years  before  the  great  Nazarene  had  given  the 
earth  a  new  religion;  before  the  first  stone  was 
hewn  for  sphinx  or  pyramids ;  before  the  Egyp- 
tians first  emerged  from  the  mists  of  the  past 
upon  the  banks  of  the  Nile  and  the  Ganges — in 
a  past  as  unfathomable  as  the  future.  The  in- 
cident had  impressed  his  mind  greatly  as  he  read 
it,  and  he  was  now  able  to  tell  it  graphically  and 
with  a  wealth  of  detail,  yes,  even  to  elaborate  it 
a  trifle  at  times  as  he  puffed  slowly  at  his  pipe 
between  sentences.  And  as  he  spoke  their  atten- 
tion grew  and  grew  until  their  tobacco  ceased  to 
burn  and  wide-eyed  and  open-mouthed  they 
hemmed  him  about  in  an  ear-strained  circle. 
He  finished,  knocked  the  "heel"  from  his  briar 
and  arising  with  deliberation  passed  out  into  the 
moonlight,  closing  the  door  after  him.  For  a 
moment  following  his  departure  all  within  the 
bunkhouse  was  as  quiet  as  the  grave,  then  to  his 
ears  came  the  voice  of  Sourdough,  awe  stricken, 
almost  reverent. 


BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS  135 

"An  ilephant  in  cold  storage  for  twinty  thou- 
sand years!  An*  they  ate  his  meat  like  'twas 
tinderloin.  Niver  before  did  I  hear  such  a 
liar." 


CHAPTER  VIII 

Six  O'CLOCK  the  next  morning  found  Wilson, 
ax  on  shoulder,  striding  along  the  trail  that  led 
to  the  river.  With  the  whining  saws  ever  eat- 
ing deeper  into  the  forest  and  leaving  behind 
them  day  after  day  more  scores  of  felled  trunks, 
new  skidding  roads  must  be  constantly  con- 
structed. He  was  now  to  work  upon  one  that 
led  to  a  rollway  down  which  the  logs  were  to  be 
tumbled.  Where  the  banks  of  the  stream  were 
low,  the  logs  were  piled  at  the  water's  edge  where 
a  few  heaves  from  a  cant-hook  would  send  them 
into  the  current,  but  where  the  shores  towered 
they  were  accumulated  at  the  verge  of  an  incline. 
Back  in  the  woods  he  heard  the  commands  of  a 
top-loader  to  the  ground-men  as  the  logs  were 
hauled  to  the  pile  on  skids,  where  they  were 
wrapped  about  by  a  log  chain  and  then  by  means 
of  a  primitive,  sled-mounted  derrick  swung  from 
the  skid  by  horse  power  to  the  top  of  the  pile. 
It  was  fast  work  and  dangerous,  this  swinging 

136 


BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS  IS? 

of  ponderous  tree  trunks  bodily  through  the  air, 
poising  them  delicately  upon  the  crest  of  the  top 
log  and  then  nesting  them  snugly  with  cant-hook 
and  peavy,  and  grewsome  accidents  were  of  not 
infrequent  occurrence.  For  though  your  true 
loader  is  as  keen-eyed  and  sure-footed  as  a  moun- 
tain goat,  yet  the  day  sometimes  comes  when  a 
foot  slips,  a  working  mate  blunders  or  a  well- 
trained  horse  miscalculates  and  then  like  as  not 
there  is  a  mangled  body  lying  in  the  snow. 
Sharply  the  sounds  of  the  toiling  crew  penetrated 
the  frost-bitten  air,  the  warning  call  of  the  sky- 
man to  his  partners  below,  their  grunted  re- 
sponses and  the  rattle  of  chains.  Then  suddenly 
there  came  a  dull  rumble  and  a  warning  yell  that 
was  followed  by  an  ominous  silence.  Halted  in 
his  tracks  by  the  dull  roar  and  ensuing  quiet 
Wilson  stood  with  eyes  peering  deep  into  the 
forest  where  he  knew  in  all  probability  another 
grim  tragedy  had  taken  place.  He  strained  his 
ears  for  another  sound  which  would  give  him 
the  exact  location  of  the  happening. 

For  a  space  the  stillness  was  absolute,  seem- 
ing accentuated  by  the  sudden  hushing  of  the 
cries  as  the  stillness  of  a  room  seems  to  be  em- 


138  BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS 

phasized  by  the  instantaneous  stopping  of  a 
loudly  ticking  clock.  Then  he  heard  a  combined 
groan  and  curse,  and  throwing  his  ax  aside  he 
went  running  to  whence  the  voice  sounded.  A 
moment  later  he  arrived  at  the  spot. 

Sturgeon  Bay  was  lying  in  the  snow,  white 
of  face  and  grimacing  with  pain  but  swearing 
at  his  mates  without  cessation.  A  heavy  log 
pinned  his  leg  to  the  ground  and  his  escape  from 
death  had  been  narrow.  But  although  he  hurried 
his  utmost,  before  Wilson  could  lend  a  hand  the 
rapidly  working  woodsmen  had  refastened  the 
logging  chain  and  the  stout  horses  once  more 
lurched  forward  and  swung  the  trunk  into  the 
air  where  it  swayed  above  its  victim.  Then  they 
grasped  the  fallen  man  and  dragged  him  to  a 
place  of  safety  where  they  began  with  rough 
solicitude  to  examine  the  injured  limb.  It  was 
a  bad  fracture,  compound,  comminuted,  the 
splintered  bones  projecting  through  the  flesh  be- 
neath the  knee.  The  victim  bolstered  up  by  the 
knee  of  Pete  Mullet,  watched  their  crude  diag- 
nosis as  he  called  down  picturesque  misfortunes 
upon  the  heads  of  the  authors  of  the  accident. 
Wilson  was  holding  the  injured  leg  in  position 


BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS  139 

as  best  he  could  while  the  others  tightly  bandaged 
it  with  strips  torn  from  their  clothing,  and  now 
he  asked  incidentally  how  it  had  happened. 
Sturgeon  Bay's  reply  was  pregnant  with  a  great 
disgust. 

"I  was  the  skyman  and  that Canuck  cant- 
hook  Jack  below  was  heaving  up  a  top  log.  I 
yelled  to  him  to  throw  the  Saginaw  into  her,  but 
instead  of  that  the  pea-cracking  boon  skipper 
St.  Croixed  her  and  she  bucked  up  and  cracked 
off  one  of  my  stems." 

They  grinned  in  the  midst  of  their  minister- 
ings,  abusing  the  patient  in  kind,  and  having 
finished  wrapping  the  leg  quickly  made  a  rude 
stretcher  of  saplings  and  bore  him  away.  The 
swamper  watched  them  as  they  disappeared 
campward,  the  maledictions  of  Sturgeon  Bay 
coming  back  to  his  ears  long  after  the  boughs 
had  screened  him,  then  returned  to  his  thrown- 
aside  tool.  The  accident  had  depressed  him 
more  than  a  little.  There  had  been  something 
in  the  attitude  of  the  woodsman  as  he  had  lain 
in  the  snow  that  had  been  grewsomely  suggestive 
of  the  way  Grayford  had  fallen,  and  not  since 
the  few  days  following  that  tragedy  had  he  been 


140  BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS 

so  soul  weary.  And  that  Barbara  Findlay  had 
come  into  his  life,  radiant  and  unforgettable,  he 
regarded  as  an  additional  misfortune.  That  he 
admired  her  more  than  any  other  woman  he  had 
ever  known;  that  of  late  he  had  thought  of  her 
more  than  all  other  things  combined,  and  that 
her  presence  had  quickened  his  pulse  as  no  other 
presence  ever  had,  were  matters  of  which  he 
could  not  but  take  cognizance  in  his  moments  of 
introspection.  Yet  that  he,  a  hiding  criminal, 
should  become  more  than  idly  interested  in  any 
woman  would  be  to  compound  folly  with  crime 
and  add  fresh  coals  of  suffering  to  those  already 
heaped  upon  him.  To  fall  in  love — nothing 
could  be  more  impossible.  Doggedly  he  trudged 
on. 

He  was  walking  along  a  beaten  path  with  his 
eyes  glued  upon  the  trail  and  his  rubbered  feet 
falling  almost  noiselessly.  A  fallen  log  lay  be- 
fore him  and  he  swung  himself  upon  it  with  the 
involuntary  stealth  of  those  who  walk  alone  in 
the  empty  halls  of  silent  places.  Happening  to 
glance  a  trifle  further  ahead  he  abruptly  ceased 
all  movement.  A  dozen  yards  away  a  large  an- 
imal lay  sleeping  in  the  snow,  the  silvery  gray 


BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS  141 

coat  harmonizing  almost  perfectly  with  the  bed 
upon  which  it  lay  and  the  broad  antlers  uprising 
in  a  pronged  crescent.  Neither  sound  nor  scent 
had  betrayed  the  advancing  man  and  the  buck 
slept  on  unconscious,  fairly  within  ax  hurl. 
There  was  a  fresh  wound  as  though  made  by 
sharp  fangs  upon  his  flank,  and  the  soundness 
of  his  sleep  betokened  hard  running  and  exhaus- 
tion not  many  hours  past. 

"Good  morning,"  called  Wilson  from  his 
perch. 

With  a  snort  the  buck  raised  his  head  and  fore 
quarters,  and  with  front  legs  spread  far  apart 
and  stiffly  braced,  sat  for  a  moment  in  strange 
awkwardness  as  he  stared  uncomprehendingly  at 
the  one  who  had  aroused  him  from  his  dreams. 
Then  he  arose  upon  all  fours,  wheeled  and  began 
leaping  high  in  the  air  with  the  easy  spring  of  a 
bounding  rubber  ball.  And  so  slow,  so  effort- 
less and  so  rhythmic  were  his  motions  that  the 
watching  man  thought  he  but  sprang  idly  up 
and  down  in  one  spot  until  his  rapidly  diminish- 
ing size  told  him  that  those  seemingly  purpose- 
less leaps  were  in  reality  tremendous  forward 
bounds  that  sent  the  great  silvery-gray  body 


142  BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS 

fairly  whistling  through  space.  For  a  hundred 
yards  he  ran  straight  away,  then  angling  from 
the  trail  cleared  a  fallen  top  the  height  of  a 
man's  head  with  half  a  yard  to  spare  between  his 
knees  and  the  topmost  branch,  vanishing  like  a 
gray  specter  in  the  brush.  It  was  a  display  of 
running  and  vaulting  incomparable,  and  the 
sight  of  it  aroused  the  watcher's  admiration 
hugely. 

"Good-by  and  good  luck  to  you,  old  man," 
he  called  into  the  emptiness  where  the  deer  had 
been  a  moment  before.  "May  you  always  be 
able  to  show  your  enemies  as  clean  a  pair  of 
heels  as  you  do  your  friends."  He  leaped  from 
the  log  and  went  on  down  the  trail  as  he  marveled 
at  the  distance  that  lay  between  the  imprints  of 
the  hoofs. 

Throughout  that  day  Wilson  worked  even 
harder  than  usual.  Despite  all  efforts  to  lighten 
them,  his  spirits  remained  leaden  and  he  sought 
by  sheer  violence  of  exertion  to  banish  the  dreary 
mental  pictures  that  insisted  upon  arising  before 
him.  Five  o'clock  came  with  the  gray  of  mid- 
winter twilight  close  upon  it,  heavy  clouds  blur- 
ring the  sky  and  a  shifting  wind  that  awoke  the 


BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS  143 

voices  of  the  firs.  Across  the  river  over  on  the 
hardwood  ridge  the  wolves  had  been  in  full  cry 
for  an  hour  past,  their  voices  now  receding, 
now  approaching  as  though  they  ran  some  game 
that  circled  wide  and  fast.  The  tumult  was 
steadily  growing  in  volume  now,  eager  and  sharp, 
leading  straight  towards  him,  and  he  rested  on  his 
ax  as  he  fastened  his  eyes  on  the  river  upon  which 
it  seemed  each  moment  the  yelling  pack  must 
burst  into  full  sight.  An  instant  later  a  mag- 
nificent buck  shot  out  of  the  forest  onto  the  snow- 
spread  ice,  a  great  silver-gray  fellow  with  a 
fresh  scar  upon  his  flank,  and  who  taking  to  the 
level  surface  ran  diagonally  across  towards 
where  the  man  stood.  And  scarcely  was  he  well 
clear  of  the  cover  than  a  full  score  of  gaunt 
brutes  burst  into  sight  on  the  other  side  and 
went  leaping  across  the  ice  in  full  chorus. 

For  a  moment  the  swamper's  heart  stood  still 
as  he  recognized  the  grand  brute  as  the  one  of 
the  morning  whom  he  had  prayed  might  ever 
show  his  enemies  clean  heels.  But  no  longer 
the  great  one  ran  with  the  effortless  grace  of  a 
bounding  rubber  ball,  but  heavily  and  doggedly 
— as  the  gazing  man  had  run  the  last  mile  of 


144  BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS 

his  great  race.  And  now  fairly  in  the  middle 
of  the  river,  with  his  lolling  foes  hemming  him 
close  about  and  one  red-tongued  brute  leaping 
back  and  forth  before  his  nose,  the  buck  spun 
about.  Softly  gossiping  winds  had  whispered 
to  the  pack  that  he  was  near  and  the  ever  tell- 
tale snow  had  led  them  to  the  covert  where  he 
had  hid.  Ill  luck  had  led  him  into  a  pit  where 
a  fall  had  lamed  him,  and  now  the  remorseless 
ruler  of  the  wilderness,  whose  decree  has  ever 
been  that  no  wild  thing  shall  die  a  natural  death, 
stood  over  him  thumbs  down.  Knowing  that  he 
was  about  to  die  the  buck  lowered  his  antlers 
and  charged,  and  Wilson  cheered  him  on  with  a 
wild  yell  as  he  saw  a  howling  form  go  down  be- 
fore the  prongs  and  knife-like  hoofs  of  the  dy- 
ing warrior.  But  he  was  hopelessly  outnum- 
bered and  exhausted,  while  the  cunning  ones 
that  had  run  him  in  relays  were  fresh  and  fam- 
ishing. Struggling  bravely  he  went  down, 
buried  beneath  them,  and  in  a  moment  more  his 
sufferings  were  over.  Dusk  crept  from  out  of 
the  woods  and  threw  its  first  fold  over  the  trag- 
edy of  the  river,  and  the  man  turned  campward 
and  left  the  snarling  pack  muzzle  deep  in  the 


BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS  145 

warm  blood  that  had  the  moment  before  surged 
so  strongly  through  the  perfect  form  of  their 
quarry. 

But  it  was  a  day  of  accidents  and  bloodshed 
and  he  was  not  done  with  it  yet.  Back  in  camp 
he  learned  of  another  disaster.  Jimmy  Hard 
Boots,  partner  of  Big  Ben,  had  had  his  ribs 
staved  in  by  the  back  kick  of  a  tree  and  was 
already  being  conveyed  to  the  railway  upon  a 
sled.  That  night  for  the  first  time  during  the 
season  the  sealer's  figures  on  the  bucking  board, 
where  the  day's  cut  of  the  rival  crews  was 
chalked  in  all  men's  view,  showed  that  another 
crew  had  done  greater  wonders  since  morning 
than  had  Big  Ben's.  And  glooming  over  the 
misfortune  to  his  partner,  and  stung  by  the  hu- 
miliation of  being  outdone  in  his  labors,  that 
giant  sat  in  a  corner  without  a  word  spoken  the 
whole  evening  through. 

It  was  a  day  that  Wilson  was  glad  to  see  pass 
forever  and  he  crawled  into  his  blankets  im- 
mediately after  supper.  Yet  in  one  way  it 
brought  its  compensation.  For  out  of  it  grew 
an  incident  deemed  remarkable  even  among  the 
mighty  deeds  of  the  giants  of  the  snows. 


CHAPTER  IX 

HE  came  squeaking  over  the  surface,  his 
broad,  hide-interlaced  footgear  stringing  the 
blurred  signature  of  the  snowshoe  behind  him. 
Up  the  steep  bank  of  the  stream  he  zig-zagged 
his  way  amongst  the  dark  firs  and  pale  birches 
until  he  reached  the  hardwood  of  the  ridge  top, 
and  there  paused  for  a  brief  inspection.  To  his 
left  lay  the  steep  plunge  of  the  south  side  of  the 
hill,  ending  in  a  cypress  swamp  choked  with  the 
white  groves  of  its  buried  dead;  back  of  him  the 
dark  fringed  river,  glimmering  unspotted  in  the 
moonlight;  before  him  the  endless  forest  that 
stretched  away  and  away  until  it  sickened  and 
died  at  the  edge  of  the  polar  circle.  Hitching 
his  pack  higher  on  his  shoulders  and  shaping  his 
course  so  that  the  moon  shone  full  in  his  face, 
he  went  shuffling  along  the  spine  of  the  ridge 
with  the  swinging  gait  of  a  caribou. 

For  nearly  a  mile  he  traveled  rapidly,  then 
halted.  Just  before  him  the  shoulder  of  the  hill 

146 


BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS  147 

fell  sharply  away,  and  in  the  hollow  below  half 
a  dozen  low  log  structures  squatted  with  yellow 
fans  of  light  streaming  from  the  narrow  win- 
dows across  the  snow.  He  descended  and 
plunged  among  them.  From  the  first  structure 
came  the  munchings  and  stampings  of  many 
horses,  from  the  next  the  shrill  whistle  of  the 
still  toiling  cookee,  from  the  third  and  largest, 
the  hum  of  many  voices.  Hesitating  for  but  an 
instant  before  the  door  he  jerked  the  latch  up 
and  stepped  within. 

The  buzz  of  the  voices  instantly  ceased  and 
through  the  smoke-fog  three  score  pairs  of  eyes 
gazed  at  him  with  the  unwinking  frankness  of 
men  who  compliment  each  other  with  curses, 
and  whose  idea  of  a  mild  reproof  is  a  blow  that 
does  not  permanently  disable.  In  the  center  of 
the  room  a  heater  was  roaring  and  the  humid 
smell  of  rapidly  drying  garments  was  strong  in 
his  nose.  Unwinkingly  he  returned  their  stare 
until  at  last  the  voice  of  Winnipeg  broke  the 
silence. 

"Injun,  by  Gar!" 

In  an  instant  pandemonium  arose.  From 
deacon  bench,  bunk  and  stool  arose  the  tolling 


148  BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS 

sentences  of  a  Swede,  the  quick  retort  of  a  Celt 
and  the  burr  of  a  Canuck,  until  Flint  striding 
from  out  of  the  gray  gloom  stood  before  the 
visitor.  "What's  the  trouble,  Injun?"  he 
demanded.  Impassively  the  other  answered 
him. 

"No  trouble  'tall.  Cold  in  woods.  Me  stay 
here  all  night,  mebbyso." 

With  a  brief  nod  the  walking  boss  turned  away 
and  the  red  man,  kicking  his  feet  from  his  snow- 
shoes,  threw  his  pack  upon  an  empty  bunk  and 
seated  himself  alone  in  a  corner.  For  it  is  the 
unwritten  law  of  the  north  woods  that  whoever 
comes  into  camp  from  off  the  snows  may  eat, 
sleep  and  rest  there  from  sun  to  sun  without 
money  and  without  price,  be  his  skin  white,  black 
or  red.  And  neither  should  he,  holding  his 
peace,  have  questions  asked  of  him  the  answering 
of  which  might  cause  embarrassment.  Grad- 
ually the  hum  of  the  voices  sank  into  a  drone  and 
the  drone  into  a  silence  as  the  wearied  toilers  cast 
off  their  outer  clothing  and  crawled  into  their 
bunks  for  the  deep  sleep  which  should  leave  them 
giants  refreshed  for  the  giants'  work  of  the  mor- 
row, the  last  intelligible  sound  being  the  drowsy 


BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS  149 

query  of  Sourdough  whose  bunk  was  next  to 
the  door. 

"An'  Swanson?  Did  ye  wind  up  thot  dom 
thermometer?" 

Scarcely,  so  it  seemed  to  them,  had  the  hands 
of  the  tiny  clock  had  time  to  crawl  an  inch  than 
the  long  drawn  call  of  the  chore  boy  ringing 
in  their  ears  brought  them  to  the  floor  where 
they  dressed  in  a  dozen  breaths  and  then  filed 
through  the  door  to  the  long  breakfast  tables. 
And  the  Indian  following  closely  in  their  steps 
ate  as  the  white  men  did,  silently,  hugely,  then 
stepped  into  the  open  air  without.  The  sky 
was  leaden  and  the  air  bitterly  cold,  while  upon 
his  head  and  shoulders  frozen  particles  of  snow 
rattled  like  fine  sifted  sands.  Out  of  the  morn- 
ing's gray  Flint  came  striding  and  the  guest  let 
fall  a  detaining  hand  upon  the  white  man's 
sleeve  as  the  latter  passed.  The  boss  whirled 
upon  him  impatiently. 

"What  do  you  want?" 

"Me  go  to  work  now." 

"What  can  you  do?" 

"Saw  down  tree  like  loup  garou  *  devil." 

*  Pronounced  "Loo-garoo,"  a  Werewolf. 


150  BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS 

Critically  Flint  surveyed  him  up  and  down, 
through  and  across,  with  eyes  long  accustomed 
to  judge  of  the  brawn  of  man  or  beast,  noting 
the  set  of  the  thick  neck  on  the  powerful 
shoulders,  the  depth  of  the  chest  and  the  bowed, 
muscled  legs.  "Looks  fit,  but  I  never  saw  an 
Injun  yet  that  could  hold  up  his  end  with  a 
good  white  man,"  he  thought,  and  at  another 
time  would  have  given  a  curt  negative  and  gone 
his  way.  But  since  the  accident  to  Jimmy  Hard 
Boots,  Big  Ben  had  been  in  a  black  sulk  because 
of  the  feebleness  of  his  new  sawing  partner, 
and  Flint,  eager  to  humor  the  giant  as  the  best 
sawyer  in  the  woods,  was  at  his  wits'  end  to  find 
him  a  fitting  mate.  It  is  a  bitter  thing  for  a 
man  to  see  a  fiercely-won  and  long-gloried- 
in  championship  wrested  from  him,  and  Big 
Ben's  fame  had  been  sung  in  every  lumber  camp, 
smoky  dance  hall  and  log  saloon  of  the  pineries. 
Yet  that  was  just  what  this  mighty  sawyer  was 
witnessing  now,  for  Lebeau  and  Amereaux, 
greatly  heartened  by  the  disabling  of  Jimmy, 
were  driving  their  whining  ribbon  of  steel  back 
and  forth  with  the  frenzy  of  whipped  devils,  and 
the  nightly  scores  upon  the  bucking  board  were 


BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS  151 

as  wormwood  and  gall  to  the  long  victorious 
Ben.  With  all  this  in  mind  Flint  pondered 
while  one  might  have  counted  ten,  then  jerked 
out  his  answer.  "Come  with  me."  Quickly 
he  turned  away,  the  Indian  stepping  in  his 
tracks. 

Over  the  summit  of  the  hill  a  black  mass 
crawled,  seemed  to  poise  for  an  instant  on  the 
apex  and  then,  tilting,  come  thundering  down 
upon  them.  A  leap  to  one  side  and  they  were 
in  safety  among  the  brush.  The  next  moment 
a  huge  swaying  load  roared  past,  the  teamster 
as  tense  and  alert  as  a  charioteer  of  Rome  as 
with  wild  yells  he  urged  the  leaping  beasts  on. 
Flint,  his  mouth  bound  shut  by  tight  lines, 
watched  the  mass  until  with  a  lurch  to  the 
side  it  ground  around  a  curve  and  disappeared. 
Then  he  faced  his  companion. 

"Lost  two  horses  and  a  man  on  that  devil's 
slide  last  winter.  Straw  got  iced  over  in  the 
night  and  the  sled  raced  like  that  one  just  now. 
Horses  slipped  and  went  down  and  the  driver 
was  yanked  off.  Five  thousand  feet  of  logs 
went  over  them  in  the  tenth  of  a  second.  You 
can  imagine  the  shape  they  were  in  when  we 


152  BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS 

gathered  them  up.  But  the  stuff  has  to  go  down 
all  the  same."  Grimmer  of  countenance  than 
he  had  been  the  moment  before  he  once  more 
led  the  way  up  the  hill. 

Big  Ben  accepted  his  new  mate  with  a  scowl 
of  disapproval.  "Injun  or  white  man,  Swede 
or  Canuck  is  all  the  same  to  me  so  long  as  he 
can  do  the  work,"  he  growled.  "But  whoever 
he  may  be  I'll  make  him  sweat  blood  before  three 
hours  have  come  and  gone.  Hear  that,  you 
savage?  I'm  going  to  tame  you." 

"Mebbyso." 

"Then  take  hold  of  that  saw."  Despite  the 
bitterness  of  the  air  Big  Ben  threw  his  heavy 
blanket  coat  aside  and  stood  before  them  frown- 
ing and  huge  in  the  first  daylight  as  the  Indian 
silently  picked  up  his  end  of  the  thin  blade. 
And  Flint,  seeing  the  light  of  rivalry  that  al- 
ready burned  in  their  eyes  left  them  with  a  "go 
to  it"  and  an  inward  grin.  For  rivalry  between 
a  pair  like  this  meant  many  logs  cut  for  the  drive 
to  come,  and  many  logs  for  the  drive  meant  an 
increase  of  wages  for  the  foreman. 

Back  and  forth,  back  and  forth  they  swayed 
until  the  red  sawdust  spurted  in  streams  from 


BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS  153 

the  heart  of  the  wounded  tree.  Deftly  the 
wedge  was  driven,  the  final  ax  cut  made  and  far 
up  in  the  air  the  head  of  the  Norway  nodded. 
Then  with  a  sickened  shudder,  a  groan  and  a 
drunken  sway  it  roared  down  through  the 
branches  of  its  lesser  kind,  stripping  them  as  by 
a  thunderbolt,  hurling  the  dismembered  limbs 
javelin-like  through  the  air,  then  with  a  re- 
bounding back  leap  and  the  rending  of  tough 
fibers  lay  inert  at  full  length  upon  the  snow. 
From  the  place  of  safety  where  they  had  with- 
drawn at  the  beginning  of  the  downrush  Big 
Ben  and  his  dark  partner  emerged  to  seek  an- 
other victim. 

But  though  he  worked  with  more  than  his 
usual  might  through  the  day,  when  night  came 
and  they  wended  their  way  campward  the  white 
man  was  forced  to  inwardly  confess  that  his  new 
partner  had  driven  him  as  no  man  ever  had  be- 
fore. But  the  figures  upon  the  board  that  night 
told  another  tale,  the  old  familiar  ones  of  Big 
Ben  and  his  mate  leading  in  the  cut  of  the  day, 
and  for  the  first  time  since  the  passing  of  Jimmy 
Hard  Boots  the  voices  of  the  Frenchmen  were 
subdued.  But  instead  of  rejoicing  that  he  had 


154  BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS 

again  found  a  partner  against  whom  he  could 
pit  his  full  strength  to  the  vanquishment  of 
his  rivals,  petty  jealousy  and  selfish  rage  filled 
Big  Ben's  soul  that  another  man  dared  be  as 
mighty  as  himself.  However,  he  would  teach 
him  his  lesson  yet.  To-morrow  he  would  drive 
him  until  the  world  swam  in  a  sea  of  blood,  and 
yet  on  through  that  sea  of  blood  to  a  sea  of  night 
where  all  things  spun  giddily  and  the  roar  of 
cataracts  filled  his  ears.  And  then  having 
driven  him  to  a  lay-down  in  the  snow  and  taught 
him  his  place,  he  would  ease  up  on  him  a  bit  and 
together  they  would  overhaul  the  spurting 
Frenchmen  or  leave  their  own  skins  hanging 
in  the  woods.  Comforted  somewhat  by 
thoughts  like  these  he  crept  early  to  bed  for  the 
long  slumber  which  would  bring  him  triumph 
on  the  morrow. 

The  moon  sailed  high  and  the  camp  lay  hushed 
in  death-like  slumber.  From  out  of  a  berth  a 
form  came  creeping  and  stealthily  opening  the 
door  stepped  out  into  the  moonlight  of  the  clear- 
ing. Long  it  stood  there  in  the  stinging  cold, 
intense,  snuffing  the  air,  listening,  its  eyes  bent 
steadily  upon  the  north.  And  though  the 


BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS  155 

watcher  knew  it  not,  at  this  same  moment  half 
a  dozen  leagues  further  on  towards  the  pole 
star  a  young  Indian  woman  from  her  knees 
was  praying  that  Q-no-ka,  the  guardian  spirit 
of  lovers,  might  again  guide  her  steps  to  the 
lost  trail  of  her  husband.  For  unless  she  could 
find  him  and  by  throwing  herself  before  him 
gain  forgiveness  for  her  hot  words  and  sense- 
less jealousy,  then  the  gaunt  wolf  that  had  fol- 
lowed her  for  so  many  weary  miles  might  do  his 
worst,  for  his  worst  was  better  than  the  lone 
tepee  far  back  upon  the  turtle  waters. 

Six  o'clock  coming  again  found  Big  Ben 
stripped  to  his  shirt  sleeves  upon  the  hillside  and 
scowling  at  the  man  whom  he  had  sworn  should 
this  day  fall  gasping  before  him  in  the  darkness 
of  departing  senses  and  the  bitterness  of  defeat. 
With  an  expressionless  face  the  swarthy  one 
picked  up  one  end  of  the  shining  steel  band  and 
the  long  finish  fight  was  on.  And  although 
Big  Ben  had  done  Trojan  labors  on  the  day  be- 
fore, his  previous  efforts  were  but  child's  play 
beside  his  struggles  now  as  he  sought  to  wear 
down  the  silent  man  whose  black  eyes  ever  gazed 


156  BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS 

deep  into  his  own  from  the  far  end  of  the  rush- 
ing saw.  Three  o'clock  found  the  giant  gasp- 
ing for  breath  and  staggering  as  he  sought  an- 
other tree,  and  with  defeat  grinning  at  him 
through  a  dizzy  world  that  swam  in  a  sea  of 
blood  he  gritted  his  teeth  as  he  settled  himself 
for  his  last  great  effort.  An  hour  later  Flint, 
who  happened  to  be  passing,  leaped  forward 
with  a  shout,  for  Big  Ben  tottering  like  a  pine 
dropped  his  arms  and  fell  forward  upon  his  face 
in  a  shapeless  mass  upon  the  sawdust-Uttered 
snow.  The  Indian  dropping  the  saw  staggered 
to  a  nearby  trunk  and  sat  down  upon  it,  cover- 
ing his  face  with  his  hands. 

Like  a  forest  fire  the  news  swept  the  camp. 
Big  Ben,  the  idolized,  the  invincible,  the  cham- 
pion sawyer  of  the  world  had  been  whipped, 
done  up,  beaten  to  a  lay-down — and  by  an  Indian ! 
Wonders  would  never  cease.  The  loggers 
scowled  and  swore  when  they  heard  the  news. 
But  there  was  one  consolation  back  of  it  all. 
There  would  be  a  fight  worth  going  miles  to 
witness. 

And  that  night  in  camp  the  challenge  was 
hurled.  Big  Ben  striding  before  his  conqueror 


BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS  157 

glared  fiercely  upon  him.  "You .  I'll 

break  every  bone  in  your  carcass."  With  a 
grunt  and  a  shrug  of  the  shoulders  the  cold 
answer  came. 

"Mebbyso." 

"When  will  you  fight?" 

"No  care.     Sunday  good  'nuf  day  for  me." 

This  was  Friday  night  and  the  time  set  was  not 
unreasonably  distant,  and  the  white  man  lurched 
away  with  an  angry  growl.  For  the  first  time 
during  the  season  silence  that  night  held  the 
camp,  the  ominous  silence  which  foreshadows 
Titanic  contests  and  deeds  of  blood  when  lesser 
men  are  awed  by  the  very  contemplation  of  the 
struggle  to  come.  Into  their  bunks  they  went 
a  full  half  hour  earlier  than  was  their  wont,  but 
no  sooner  had  their  breathing  grown  regular  and 
deep  than  a  dark  form  once  more  came  creeping 
forth  to  stand  erect  in  the  moonlight  without. 
And  as  it  stood  and  listened,  there  came  to  its 
ear  a  faint  quavering  howl  that  caused  the  lis- 
tener to  start  as  though  stung  by  a  lash.  Then 
passing  to  the  wall  of  the  bunkhouse  he  took 
from  the  logs  a  pair  of  snowshoes,  swiftly  ad- 
justed them  and  with  head  and  shoulders  held 


158  BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS 

low  went  swinging  into  the  blackness  of  the 
forest  along  his  half-obliterated  trail  of  two 
nights  before. 

Kenny,  a  hostler,  saw  him  as  he  vanished 
among  the  shadows  and  hurried  to  the  bunk- 
house  with  the  news.  "The  Injun  has  puck- 
acheed,  skipped  out,  dead  scairt  to  fight,"  said 
he  disgustedly.  And  Big  Ben,  hearing  the 
words,  sat  up  in  his  bunk  and  roared  in  his  dis- 
appointment and  rage. 

Back  along  the  spine  of  the  ridge  the  runaway 
sped  until  he  reached  the  summit,  then  slid  and 
zig-zagged  down  the  steep  descent  until  the 
glistening  incline  was  beneath  his  feet.  A  mile 
ahead  of  him  was  a  promontory,  low  and  heavily 
wooded,  lying  like  some  monster  across  his  way, 
and  presently  rounding  it  he  stopped  with  an 
unintelligible  grunt  and  a  screening  of  his  eyes 
from  the  white  glare.  For  a  hundred  yards 
ahead  of  him  there  lay  upon  the  shimmering 
way  a  black  object  where  no  black  object  should 
have  been.  With  lynx-like  quickness  he  ap- 
proached it,  bent  over  it  and  then  fell  upon  his 
knees  beside  it  as  his  hand  darting  beneath  the 
enshrouding  blankets  sought  the  bosom  to  see 


BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS  159 

if  the  heart  still  throbbed.  Lightning  quick  he 
recoiled,  stared,  then  bent  still  closer.  For 
hugged  to  the  breast  of  the  black-eyed  senseless 
woman  was  a  tiny,  helpless  thing  that  shivered 
and  mewed  in  the  cut  of  the  zero  air  and  he 
stared  at  it  uncomprehendingly.  Then  with  a 
swift  sweep  of  his  arm  he  wrapped  the  blanket 
closely  once  more. 

"Live,"  he  gasped  as  he  swung  his  burden  up- 
ward. "Live,  and  I  will  always  work  and  hunt 
for  you.  And  may  O-no-ka  lend  me  his  strength 
once  more,  for  the  way  is  long  and  I  must  travel 
swiftly."  Bent  like  a  horse-shoe  beneath  his 
burden  he  shambled  across  the  ice,  floundered 
up  the  hillside,  reeled  along  the  ridge  as  Wilson 
had  done,  burst  open  the  door  and  fell  at  full 
length  upon  the  floor  of  the  bunkhouse. 

Bewildered  and  rubbing  their  blurred  eyes  the 
crew  sat  up  in  their  bunks  as  they  stared  at  the 
gasping  form  as  he  lay  beside  his  burden.  Then 
one  by  one  they  came  crawling  from  their  blank- 
ets and  bent  over  them.  Little  was  said,  but 
muscle-knotted  arms  laid  them  on  a  bunk  and 
hard  palms  chafed  the  woman's  wrists  with  rough 
tenderness  as  they  gazed  at  the  marvel.  The 


160  BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS 

girl's  eyes  opened  and  for  a  moment  she  stared 
about  uncomprehendingly,  then  her  eyes  fell 
upon  the  heavily  breathing  form  by  her  side, 
and  with  a  cry  she  threw  herself  upon  it.  The 
man  sat  up. 

"Your  tongue  was  long  and  my  temper  short, 
yet  you  are  my  squaw  and  our  trails  should  run 
side  by  side,"  he  said  as  his  hand  closed  over 
hers.  "There  was  no  war  between  us  and  it  is 
the  wish  of  O-no-ka  that  we  be  not  parted.  One 
tepee  is  big  enough  for  both  of  us  and  one 
blanket  shall  cover  us  when  we  are  old." 

Big  Ben  arose  to  his  feet  and  stood  glowering 
upon  the  circle.  "That  Injun  is  the  best  man  in 
the  woods  and  I'd  like  to  hear  someone  say  dif- 
ferent," he  said  threateningly.  "He  is  the  only 
man  that  ever  beat  me,  but  by  the  eternal  him 
and  me  are  going  to  saw  them  Canadians  out  of 
their  hides  before  the  winter  is  over.  Shake 
hands,  partner." 


CHAPTER  X 

FINDLAY  came  jingling  into  camp  behind  a 
pair  of  half-galloping  broncos,  fur-coated  to 
his  heels,  and  Wilson  saw  him  and  Flint  talking 
earnestly  together  in  front  of  the  office.  Pres- 
ently they  signaled  him  and  he  went  to  where 
they  stood,  wondering  what  was  in  store  for  him. 
The  camp  owner  took  the  swamper's  hand  with 
the  grip  of  a  blacksmith  and  then  told  what  had 
brought  him  there,  in  about  a  dozen  words. 

"Our  bookkeeper  at  Archer  was  holed-up  in 
town.  Want  the  opening?" 

The  new  woodsman  whistled  softly.  "Think 
I'm  big  enough  to  fill  it?"  he  asked  somewhat 
dubiously. 

"You'll  crowd  it.  Anybody  can  tell  in  five 
minutes  that  you've  got  brains,  and  after  the 
way  you  stuck  to  your  feet  when  you  toted  my 
girl  in,  your  grit  ain't  a  matter  of  speculation. 
The  bookkeeping  is  easy  the  way  it  has  been 
handled  heretofore,  and  anybody  with  a  head 

161 


162  BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS 

on  him  can  make  it  easier  yet.  I'll  hold  on  to 
you  until  you  get  so  you  can  ride  your  own  log, 
and  after  that  it  will  be  as  simple  as  Simon. 
You'll  have  a  little  cave  of  your  own  to  sleep 
in  over  the  store  and  I'll  sky  your  time-check  to 
fifty  dollars  a  month.  Want  it?" 

Wilson  leaned  back  against  the  logs  and 
gazed  thoughtfully  at  his  feet.  The  work  that 
he  was  now  doing  was  a  strong  man's  work  and 
despite  the  long  hours,  the  severity  of  the  toil 
and  the  occasional  hardships  he  had  grown  to 
rather  enjoy  it  than  otherwise.  The  mysterious 
enchantress  of  the  woods  had  thrown  her  first 
mesh  about  him.  Under  these  great  trees  he 
had  been  more  at  peace  than  he  could  hope  to 
be  elsewhere.  From  the  chilled  wine  of  the 
north  he  had  drawn  deep  draughts  which  had 
flushed  his  cheeks  and  sent  the  blood  tingling 
through  his  veins  like  the  wine  made  by  man, 
yet  unlike  the  wine  of  man  it  had  brought  him 
the  flush  of  health  instead  of  the  flush  of  fever, 
and  had  left  his  head  as  clear  as  a  bell.  It  had 
been  here  in  this  wilderness  that  he  had  become 
filled  with  an  abhorrence  unspeakable  for  his 
follies  of  the  past,  rejoicing  silently  as  he  had 


BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS  163 

felt  his  swelling  muscle  drive  the  ax  to  the 
eye  in  solid  wood,  and  it  was  here  that  he  had 
also  grown  stronger  of  heart,  stronger  of  hope, 
stronger  in  faith.  And  now  the  thought  of 
bartering  all  this  free  play  of  his  body  for  work 
that  a  frail  woman  might  do  as  well  or  better 
than  he  could  was  the  antonym  of  tempting. 
Still,  it  was  a  distinct  advance  in  the  social  and 
financial  scale,  and  socially  and  financially  he 
now  stood  almost  upon  the  bottom.  Looking  at 
it  from  that  angle  it  was  an  opportunity  not  to 
be  disregarded.  He  had  started  his  new  life 
amidst  new  surroundings  with  nothing  but  awk- 
wardness, a  weakened  will  and  a  sapped  strength 
to  compete  daily  with  those  whose  only  jewels 
were  the  very  ones  he  lacked.  Yet  he  had  nearly 
held  his  own  with  them,  and  now  opportunity 
was  passing  them  by  to  knock  at  his  door. 
Manifestly  he  must  embrace  it  as  well  as  all 
others  which  might  follow,  or  else  be  content  to 
forever  remain  a  whittler  of  wood  for  the  mere 
pleasure  of  whittling.  And  were  he  to  carry 
out  his  vow  to  make  the  most  of  himself  through 
life  and  repay  to  the  uttermost  liis  social  debt, 
he  must  now  throw  down  the  thick  handle  of  his 


164  BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS 

ax  and  pick  up  a  thin  pen  with  fingers  stiffened 
almost  beyond  the  power  to  grasp  so  small  a 
thing.  Then  all  of  a  second  he  thought  of  Bar- 
bara Findlay. 

A  feeling  almost  of  pain  filled  his  breast  and 
for  an  instant  his  reply  lay  upon  the  tip  of  his 
tongue ;  a  short,  dogged  refusal  with  perfunctory 
thanks  that  would  bury  him  for  all  time  in  the 
snows  and  mould  of  the  forest  with  nothing  but 
health-assuring  toil  as  the  panacea  for  his  ex- 
istence, and  with  nothing  but  thoughts  for  his 
pleasures  and  pains.  For  should  he  go  to 
Archer  he  would  of  necessity  see  the  girl  much, 
and  his  fear  of  seeing  her  much  was  the  fear  of 
one  who  would  put  a  great  temptation  behind 
him.  Still,  his  dread  of  her  was  but  folly  after 
all.  It  was  a  thousand  chances  against  one  that 
she  would  ever  feel  more  than  grateful  towards 
him,  and  that  he  with  an  uncleansable  blood  stain 
upon  his  hand  and  the  shadow  of  prison  walls 
always  upon  him  could  ever  forget  the  gulf  be- 
tween them,  was  unthinkable.  After  all  he 
might  as  well  fight  the  fates  at  their  own  door 
as  in  the  fastnesses  of  a  wood.  "I'll  go,"  he 
said  quietly. 


BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS  165 

Findlay's  hand  dropped  upon  his  shoulder 
with  the  dead  weight  of  a  maul.  "Good. 
Hustle  your  pack  out  and  throw  it  in  the  sled." 
Off  Wilson  went  with  a  quick  step  and  ten 
minutes  later  had  bidden  Flint  good-by  and  was 
upon  the  seat  beside  the  logger  as  the  sled  sped 
along  the  ice  road,  the  shrill  whistle  of  the  wind 
in  their  ears.  The  gray  eyes  of  the  elder  man 
were  sweeping  the  opposite  bank  of  the  stream 
where  great  heaps  of  logs  lay  close  to  the  brink 
and  there  was  a  trace  of  worriment  in  his  voice 
as  he  waved  his  hand  comprehensively  towards 
the  water. 

"All  that  stuff  piled  up  along  there  belongs  to 
the  Badger  crowd,  and  there's  going  to  be  wail- 
ing and  gnashing  of  teeth  on  the  part  of  some- 
body when  the  break-up  comes  unless  they  give 
me  a  square  deal  on  the  water  proposition. 
And  I'll  tell  you  how  it  is  liable  to  come  to  pass. 
You  see  old  Israel  Meyer  is  the  principal  old 
he-coon  of  that  neck  of  the  woods  yonder,  and 
if  he  ever  gave  woman,  man  or  child  a  square 
deal  it  was  because  they  got  the  drop  on  him 
first.  Neither  am  I  over-fond  of  Cardiff,  his 
walking  boss,  although  I  must  confess  I  haven't 


166  BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS 

anything  against  him  except  that  I  don't  like 
him.     Ever  meet  Cardiff?" 

"No.  Of  course  I  know  of  him  though." 
"Well,  if  you  ever  do  meet  him  you'll  have  to 
look  up  about  three  times  to  see  the  top  of  him. 
He's  a  skyscraper.  He's  taller  than  the  statue 
of  Liberty  and  twice  as  big  in  the  shoulders.  I 
guess  he  could  cut  off  one  hand  and  then  whip 
anybody  around  these  woods  that  ever  jabbed 
a  pike  pole  into  a  Jill-poke.  Good-looking,  too, 
in  a  roundabout,  devilish  way.  Got  a  tongue 
set  on  ball-bearings  and  can  talk  you  into  a 
trance  if  he  feels  good-natured,  or  he  can  curse 
you  into  insensibility  with  words  that  smell  like 
a  dead  language.  Got  some  education  too. 
Some  say  he  is  a  college  graduate  and  the  ex-son 
of  a  preacher  and  that  he  got  into  grief  and 
came  up  here  to  bury  himself  under  the  snow 
banks.  Nobody  around  here  knows,  though. 
By  the  way,  you  are  no  fungus  yourself,  I  take 
it.  Never  struck  me  that  you  were  indigenous 
to  this  soil.  Git  'ap,  Jack." 

Findlay's  slash  dropped  as  lightly  as  a  fly 
upon  the  ear  of  one  of  the  ponies  and  he  bent 
his  glance  scrutinizingly  upon  the  one  at  his 


BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS  167 

side.  Not  caring  to  meet  the  quasi-question 
fairly,  Wilson  dodged  it.  "So  I  have  been  told. 
I  wish  you  would  tell  me  about  the  square  deal 
you  would  like  to  get  from  the  Badger  company. 
I  may  need  the  information  sometime." 

Findlay  nodded.  "Good  idea.  You  see  the 
story  starts  off  something  like  this.  That 
ground  hog  outfit  over  there  managed  by  hook 
or  crook — mostly  crook — to  illegally  get  legal 
control  of  the  dams  above  here  and  at  Archer 
so  that  they  could  regulate  the  height  of  the 
water  in  the  stream  to  suit  themselves.  Result 
is  when  they  want  a  flood  to  float  their  logs  down 
they  open  the  gates  and  get  a  deluge,  but  when 
I  need  water  for  my  stuff  they  hand  it  to  me  in 
a  spoon.  By  the  time  the  break-up  comes  I  will 
have  half  my  cut  hauled  in  over  the  ice  road, 
but  the  other  half  will  be  high  and  dry  back 
there  in  the  woods.  It  will  take  them  about 
thirty  days  after  the  ice  starts  to  drive  the  logs 
down  the  river  into  the  pond  at  Archer,  and  the 
head  of  my  stuff  ought  to  go  down  with  the  tail 
of  theirs.  If  I  floated  my  logs  down  with  theirs 
it  would  be  an  endless  job  to  sort  them,  but  hav- 
ing half  of  my  cut  already  on  the  ground,  brought 


168  BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS 

in  by  the  ice  road,  I  can  wait  for  the  rest  of  it. 
Now  if  they  are  white  and  will  give  me  enough 
water  for  the  last  of  my  cut,  old  Meyer  and  I 
will  get  along  happy  as  two  bugs  in  a  rug.  But 
if  he  shuts  the  water  down  when  he  is  through 
driving,  as  I  have  heard  it  talked  he  is  likely  to 
do,  and  leaves  my  logs  stranded  along  the  stream 
where  they  are  liable  to  be  burned  up  by  forest 
fires — well,  I'll  try  to  make  him  squeal.  And 
after  the  way  I  bluffed  him  out  of  that  tie  con- 
tract I  am  figuring  that  he  is  stacking  the  cards 
to  deal  himself  high,  low,  jack  and  the  game. 
But  I  guess  I  won't  worry  much  about  him  un- 
less he  gets  to  be  a  common  nuisance — then  I'll 
take  him  out  in  the  woods  and  abate  him.  Git 
'ap,  Jack.  Hello!  There's  the  metropolis." 

They  stopped  in  front  of  the  store  at  Archer 
much  as  a  door  drawn  shut  by  a  heavy  spring 
strikes  an  air  cushion  in  the  last  two  inches  of  its 
flight  and  closes  gently  after  all,  the  broncos 
sliding  the  final  ten  feet  almost  upon  their 
haunches.  Blanket  roll  under  his  arm  Wilson 
descended  and  entered  his  new  home.  And  the 
first  face  he  saw  was  that  of  Barabara  Findlay 
looking  down  upon  him  from  the  top  of  the  tall 


BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS  169 

stool  where  it  delighted  her  to  perch.  He  had 
more  than  once  wondered  how  he  should  ad- 
dress her  when  they  next  met,  whether  with  the 
frank  cordiality  that  was  his  by  right  of  the 
happenings  of  fate,  or  with  a  subtle  formality 
which  her  sensitive  nature  would  at  once  detect 
and  shrink  from.  The  latter  seemed  the  safer 
way,  for  it  would  at  once  put  a  barrier  between 
them.  For  first  of  all  Barbara's  nature  was  re- 
sponsive. Smile  at  her  and  a  smile  was  your  re- 
ply; frown  and  you  would  see  it  faintly  mir- 
rored in  her  face.  Should  he  approach  her  with 
frank  pleasure  at  the  meeting  he  felt  sure  her 
greeting  would  be  in  kind;  but  a  look  askance, 
an  indifferent  inflection  of  the  voice  or  a  flabby 
touch  of  the  hand  and  she  would  draw  herself 
within  a  shell  of  reserve  from  which  it  would  not 
be  easy  to  coax  her  in  the  future.  And  not 
having  fully  determined  what  his  course  should 
be  and  now  confronting  her  unexpectedly,  he 
greeted  her  not  at  all,  standing  silently  before 
her  as  his  thoughts  ran  back  to  that  day  in  the 
forest  when  he  had  held  her  so  long  and  so 
closely.  And  she,  thinking  that  which  none  but 
herself  knew,  coloring  with  a  flush  that  came, 


170  BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS 

endured  and  passed  in  the  twinkling  of  an  eye, 
left  her  perch  with  a  movement  that  was  neither 
a  slide  nor  a  leap  but  rather  a  fluttering  down 
that  landed  her  upon  the  floor  without  effort  or 
sound.  And  there  she  stood  before  him  with  her 
hand  extended  and  a  light  of  pleasure  in  her 
eyes  that  there  was  no  misreading.  Her  smile, 
also,  was  a  welcome  in  itself,  for  Barbara  Find- 
lay's  smile  was  as  sweet  as  women's  smiles  are 
made,  honest  and  generous,  too,  and  at  the  sight 
of  it  and  the  eye  light  his  reserve  went  a-begging 
and  his  fingers  engulfed  the  white  ones  before 
him.  "I  am  glad  to  see  you,"  he  told  her  earn- 
estly. 

She  took  a  backward  step,  laughing  audibly 
now.  "I  should  think  you  would  be  if  you  stop 
to  think  of  the  trouble  I  am  always  making  you. 
The  first  time  I  saw  you  I  broke  my  eggs  and 
you  carried  them  up  the  hill;  the  next  time  I 
broke  your  back  as  you  carried  me  down.  I 
wonder  what  I  am  going  to  do  to  you  next." 

He  laughed  too,  almost  as  lightly  as  she.  "I 
wouldn't  worry  about  it  if  I  were  you.  You 
will  probably  think  up  something  before  long." 
And  with  his  answer  his  last  thought  of  reserve 


BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS  171 

vanished  and  in  an  instant  they  were  chatting 
more  like  children  who  meet  and  become  friends 
upon  the  instant  than  as  a  man  and  a  woman 
who  had  lived  in  the  heart  of  the  world  and  knew 
it  well.  Such  it  had  been  in  the  beginning  with 
them,  and  such  it  now  promised  to  be  to  the  end. 
He  had  always  spoken  to  her  with  the  careless 
freedom  of  one  who  had  known  her  since  child- 
hood, fearing  not  in  the  least  that  she  would  mis- 
interpret him;  knowing  well  that  she  felt  the 
abiding  respect  that  lay  back  of  his  each  word 
no  matter  how  lightly  voiced.  Just  why  this 
had  been  he  did  not  himself  quite  understand. 
Perhaps  it  was  because  of  the  manner  of  their 
meeting;  perhaps  it  was  because  of  where  they 
met,  for  the  ways  of  men  and  women  thrown  to- 
gether upon  seas  that  seem  as  broad  as  the 
heavens  themselves;  upon  prairies  that  eye-leap 
after  eye-leap  do  not  span;  in  forests  that  reach 
on  and  on  until  one  wonders  that  there  can  still 
be  room  for  broad  seas  and  sweeping  plains  are 
not  the  ways  of  men  and  women  who  crowd  to- 
gether in  rooms  where  toes  must  ever  be  on  the 
alert  for  other  toes.  The  human  instinct  swells 
or  shrinks,  broadens  or  narrows,  advances  or 


172  BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS 

recedes  to  the  circumference  of  its  environment. 
And  then  again  perhaps  it  was  that  subtle — 
but  who  knows !  Who  cares ! 

Findlay,  entering,  took  her  in  his  arms  for 
a  bear-like  hug  and  a  lusty,  smacking  kiss  that 
brought  water  to  the  mouth  of  the  displaced 
watcher,  ending  his  greeting  by  pulling  wisps  of 
bright  hair  from  place  and  wrinkling  up  her  nose 
with  his  thumb  until  she  finally  managed  to  tread 
upon  his  toe  and  so  rout  him  limping. 

Over  at  the  boarding  house  the  supper  horn 
blew  and  Wilson  with  hasty  ablutions  in  the  cor- 
ner pan  started  for  the  table  with  considerable 
zeal.  Barbara  had  left  the  office  and  was  already 
half  way  up  the  hill  that  led  to  the  cottage  and 
Findlay  was  watching  her  through  the  window 
with  the  eyes  of  the  fondest  of  fathers.  "Wil- 
son," he  said  seriously  as  the  latter  was  about 
to  pass,  "this  is  a  rough  country  and  it  is  mid- 
dling full  of  tolerable  rough  men.  And  while  on 
general  principles  I'd  rather  trust  a  woman  who 
respects  herself  in  a  camp  of  lumber  jacks  than 
in  a  drawing-room  packed  with  dukes,  still  you 
can  never  tell  what  the  other  fellow  is  going  to 
do  when  you  turn  your  head  to  order  him  a 


BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS  173 

drink.  Therefore,  if  I  have  to  leave  the  table  I 
always  like  to  take  my  chips  with  me  or  else  let 
someone  whom  I  can  trust  play  my  hand  while 
I  am  gone.  Now  that  girl  is  my  only  flesh  and 
blood  and  I  wouldn't  have  anything  bad  happen 
to  her  for  a  chattel  mortgage  on  Heaven.  This 
is  no  place  for  her,  up  here  in  the  tall  timber,  and 
I  tried  to  keep  her  in  the  city  where  she  could 
have  society  and  all  the  things  that  most  girls 
of  education  and  refinement  want,  but  after  my 
wife  died  she  would  not  listen  to  it.  Said  that 
any  place  where  her  old  daddy  was  grubbing  out 
money  was  good  enough  for  her,  and  that  if  she 
couldn't  come  up  here  and  keep  house  for  him 
she'd  like  to  know  the  reason  why.  So  what 
in  the  name  of  helplessness  could  I  do?  You 
can't  bluff  her  a  foot  and  she  is  too  big  to  spank, 
so  I  just  naturally  had  to  knock  under.  Besides 
it  was  an  awful  temptation  to  have  her  here,  and 
I'll  admit  that  much.  But  I  am  obliged  to  be 
gone  a  good  deal  and  I  am  always  a  little  wor- 
ried about  her  those  times,  especially  since  that 
time  when  you  brought  her  in  and  probably  saved 
her  from  freezing.  Now,  Wilson,  I  don't  know 
much  about  your  antecedents,  and  probably 


174  BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS 

some  of  them  got  hung  the  same  as  mine  did,  but 
I'd  bet  my  stake  that  you,  personally,  are  a  man. 
And  as  a  man  I  want  you  to  do  me  a  big  favor. 
I  want  you  to  keep  your  eye  upon  her,  and  I 
hereby  delegate  you  full  guardianship  authority 
over  her  to  keep  her  out  of  trouble  and  keep 
trouble  away  from  her  in  my  absence.  Will  you 
do  that  much  for  me?" 

Keep  his  eye  upon  Barbara  Findlay!  And 
with  guardianship  powers  thrown  in!  Wilson 
opined  that  he  would. 

The  girl  had  reached  the  cottage  and  now 
stood  in  the  distant  doorway  waving  her  red 
toboggan  headgear  at  them.  They  returned  the 
salute  by  swinging  their  caps  and  bending  low 
in  exaggerated  homage.  Then  they  looked  into 
each  other's  faces  and  smiled  that  smile  of  mu- 
tual understanding  which  all  men  know  so  well; 
after  which  they  parted  with  a  hand-grip  that 
would  have  crumpled  the  knuckles  of  city  weak- 
lings. 


CHAPTER  XI 

THE  days  came  unannounced,  lived  their 
legitimate  lives  and  died  neither  blessed  nor  exe- 
crated. Findlay  was  away  the  major  portion 
of  the  time  now,  making  flying  trips  to  Archer 
that  usually  lasted  from  Saturday  until  Mon- 
day, then  returning  to  the  city  from  which  he 
held  typewritten  converse  with  the  rest  of  the 
world  as  he  exchanged  his  good  logs  for  its  good 
money,  growing  richer  and  thinner  with  each 
shrewd  bargain  driven.  It  was  a  tediously  ex- 
asperating trip  on  the  bumping  logging  train, 
and  no  man  who  was  not  much  in  love  would 
have  made  it  as  regularly  as  did  the  lumberman 
in  order  that  he  might  have  a  day  with  Barbara. 
On  these  trips  he  always  spent  hours  talking  to 
Wilson  about  her. 

"Fact  is,"  he  said  one  time,  "I'm  head  over 
heels  in  love  with  that  girl  up  on  the  hill,  and  of 
course  when  it  comes  to  fools  an  old  fool  is  the 
limit.  I  guess  it  is  partly  because  she  is  a  live 

175 


176  BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS 

image  of  her  mother,  and  her  mother — "  Find- 
lay  drew  a  quick  breath  and  ran  the  back  of  his 
hand  over  his  forehead.  "Well,  if  her  mother 
isn't  the  Queen  of  Paradise  this  moment  it  is 
because  there  isn't  any  such  job.  Ever  tell  you 
how  I  won  her?" 

"No." 

"Then  I  guess  I  will,  although  I  ain't  much 
on  hawking  family  matters,  and  probably  it 
won't  interest  you  particularly  anyway.  Still, 
there  was  a  first-class  romance  hitched  to  it  after 
all.  It  was  a  long  time  ago  of  course — just 
about  the  time  you  were  getting  born.  I  was 
brought  up  in  the  woods;  have  lived  in  them  all 
my  life,  and  now  at  fifty  am  just  beginning  to 
think  I  can  see  my  way  out  of  them.  If  I  have 
five  years  more  of  reasonably  good  luck  I  will 
be  able  to  sell  out  for  enough  to  enable  me  to 
take  my  girl  from  this  place  out  into  the  firma- 
ment where  she  can  shine  along  with  the  rest  of 
the  stars — that  is,  of  course,  unless  some  other 
man  happens  to  come  along  and  take  her  away 
first.  Well,  'way  back  in  those  dark  ages  of 
twenty-five  or  more  years  ago  I  was  riding  logs 
as  often  as  not  river  bubbles — and  living 


BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS  177 

along  the  same  as  any  other  boom-skipping 
lumber  jack,  the  only  difference  between  me  and 
the  rest  of  the  boys  being  that  I  had  symptoms 
of  an  education  and  wanted  to  get  it  good  and 
hard,  while  the  rest  of  them  didn't  have  any  and 
were  proud  of  it.  About  that  time  I  got  ac- 
quainted with  her  mother,  Barbara  Wines.  Bar- 
bara Wines  was  the  daughter  of  old  Abraham 
Wines,  who  was  circuit  judge  at  that  time- 
good  old  New  England  thistle  stock  that  got 
blown  out  of  Vermont  somehow  or  other  and  took 
root  in  the  soil  up  this  way.  He  was  a  widower 
then,  and  Barbara's  mother  kept  house  for  him 
at  Cypress  in  just  about  the  same  way  that  my 
girl  is  now  keeping  house  for  me.  In  those  days 
Cypress  was  about  the  widest  open,  toughest, 
meanest,  hurdy-gurdy  bark  and  slab  shanty 
monstrosity  that  was  ever  perpetrated  even  in 
the  pine  country,  with  Barbara  Wines  about  its 
only  redeeming  feature.  She  was  that  girl  who 
is  now  up  there  in  the  cottage  almost  to  a  dot, 
not  quite  as  pretty  maybe  or  as  well  educated, 
but  pretty  enough  to  make  any  king  turn  his 
head,  and  better  read  outside  of  the  statutes  than 
the  judge  himself.  There  wasn't  any  school  in 


178  BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS 

Cypress  those  days  for  the  reason  that  nobody 
had  happened  to  think  of  one,  and  the  kids  used 
to  run  wild  as  porcupines  until  they  got  big 
enough  to  go  into  the  woods  with  an  ax  on  their 
shoulder.  But  there  was  saloon  for  pretty  near 
every  adult  citizen,  and  every  adult  citizen  came 
pretty  near  supporting  one.  Hop  Smith  had  a 
log  joint  on  the  outskirts  of  the  burg,  and  Hop 
being  somewhat  of  an  alleged  humorist  had  put 
up  a  sign  in  front  of  it  that  you  could  see  for  a 
mile  when  you  were  coming  towards  it — and  you 
could  usually  see  two  of  them  for  the  same  dis- 
tance when  you  went  away.  The  sign  read. 
'Hop  Smith's  Institute.  Wines  and  other 
liquors.' 

"Well,  Barbara's  mother  was  about  twenty 
then,  and  she  used  to  worry  about  those  little 
brats  running  loose  and  growing  up  with  no  more 
education  than  the  angle  worms  they  went  fish- 
ing with.  So  she  tried  to  get  the  town  to  put 
up  a  log  schoolhouse  and  let  her  teach  them  just 
for  the  fun  of  it,  but  the  town  allowed  that  a 
schoolhouse  was  a  superfluous  redundancy  and 
the  old  judge  did  not  dare  to  take  up  the  propo- 


BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS  179 

sition  for  political  reasons.  So  Barbara  Wines 
made  up  her  mind  that  she  would  do  it  on  her 
own  hook.  Off  she  went  to  Hop  and  with  that 
broad,  friendly  smile  that  you  have  seen  on  my 
girl's  face  she  began  to  argue  with  him  like  the 
lawyer's  daughter  that  she  was.  Hop  wasn't 
any  worse  than  the  ordinary  man  of  those  days 
in  that  community,  being  not  over  nine-tenths 
scoundrel,  and  she  made  out  a  case  that  convinced 
him. 

'  'All  right,'  he  says.  'I'll  build  me  another 
shack  nearer  town  and  turn  this  place  over  to 
you  so  you  can  teach  the  kids  to  shun  me  for- 
ever after,  provided  I  get  credit  for  my  progres- 
sive citizenship.  I'll  move  out  the  fixtures  and 
all  you  will  have  to  do  will  be  to  put  in  a  teach- 
ing pulpit  where  the  bar  is,  some  deacon  seats 
where  the  tables  are  and  a  water  tank  in  place 
of  the  whisky  barrel.  And  that  big  sign  of 
mine — '  Hop  thought  for  a  minute  and  then 
grinned.  'I'll  leave  you  the  sign  and  all  you 
will  have  to  do  will  be  to  change  the  spelling  of 
one  word,  Miss  Wines.  As  it  now  is  it  reads 
"Hop  Smith's  Institute.  Wines  and  other  liq- 


180  BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS 

ours."  After  you  have  changed  the  spelling  it 
will  say  "Hop  Smith's  Institute.  Wines  and 
other  lickers." 

"I  was  hanging  around  town  that  summer  and 
hankering  more  than  ever  for  the  kind  of  an 
education  that  a  man  can't  get  out  of  a  saloon 
conversation.  I  could  read,  write  and  cipher 
fairly  well,  but  I  had  a  sneaking  desire  to  get 
on  speaking  terms  with  a  grammar  and  be  able 
to  have  friendly  doings  with  algebra.  Then, 
too,  whenever  I  watched  a  bartender  mix  a  drink 
I  got  to  thinking  about  chemistry.  I  could  tell 
the  plus  and  minus  signs  apart  when  I  saw  them 
together,  but  I  wanted  to  know  what  H2SO4 
stood  for.  Barbara  Wines  was  the  only  one  in 
town  who  could  teach  me,  but  I  was  ashamed  to 
go  to  day  school  with  those  kids  whose  heads 
didn't  come  much  above  the  tops  of  a  pair  of 
cruising  boots.  So  one  day  I  edged  up  to  her 
on  the  quiet,  stammered  out  my  troubles  and 
offered  her  about  all  I  had  if  she  would  teach  me 
off  and  on  evenings.  Well,  do  you  know  she 
flew  at  the  chance  like  a  hawk  at  a  June  bug! 
Wouldn't  listen  to  taking  a  cent,  but  made  me 
promise  I  would  come  to  the  house  three  even- 


BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS  181 

ings  a  week.  So  I  did.  But  we  couldn't  get 
satisfactory  results  there,  somehow.  Just  about 
the  time  I'd  get  a  good  grub  hold  on  a  cube  root 
and  had  got  it  half  pulled  out,  someone  would 
so  come  in  to  politic  with  the  judge  and  that 
would  rupture  my  chain  of  thought,  and  mental 
machinery  that  I'd  got  wound  up  tight  would 
run  down  all  in  a  second  with  a  whizz  like  a  clock 
with  a  broken  dog  clutch.  Then  I'd  find  myself 
sitting  there  sweating  and  red  with  no  more  ideas 
in  my  head  than  a  rabbit.  So  we  gradually  ad- 
journed to  the  Institute  half  a  mile  away,  and 
then  I  began  to  do  a  good  deal  better.  Also  by 
mutual  consent  we  raised  the  ante  to  four  nights 
a  week.  Of  course  I  always  had  to  see  her 
home  safe  every  evening  after  I  had  got  groggy 
with  knowledge. 

"I'll  admit  that  according  to  modern  standards 
we  rather  crowded  proprieties,  a  young  woman 
like  her  teaching  a  lumber  jack  like  me  off  there 
in  a  log  cabin  evenings.  But  you've  got  to 
remember  that  those  were  pioneer  days  in  this 
country  when  everybody  did  about  as  he  or  she 
pleased  and  no  questions  asked,  and  I  doubt  if 
either  one  of  us  ever  gave  that  matter  a  thought. 


182  BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS 

I  know  I  didn't.  And  rough,  devil-me-care 
men  as  most  of  them  were,  there  was  not  a  jack 
of  them  rough  or  devil-me-care  enough  to  care 
or  dare  say  a  word  against  Barbara  Wines. 
And  if  he  had,  the  rest  of  us  would  have  chained 
him  onto  a  saw  log  and  shot  him  head  first  to 
glory  through  Bull  Moose  rapids.  It  goes 
without  saying  that  I  fell  in  love  with  her  with- 
out knowing  it — that  is  without  knowing  it  until 
that  night  when  with  hell  scorching  us  I  told 
her  about  it  in  water  up  to  our  necks,  my  arms 
around  her  waist  to  hold  her  up  and  hers  around 
my  neck  because  there  wasn't  any  other  handy 
place  to  put  them."  Findlay's  voice  had  fallen 
almost  to  a  whisper  and  now  he  paused 
altogether  until  Wilson  jogged  him  on. 

"And  that  night!  We  had  been  working  as 
usual  in  the  log  school,  I  stumbling  along  as 
best  I  could  and  she  helping  me  up  and  starting 
me  straight  again.  It  was  chilly  that  evening 
and  I  had  built  a  fire  in  the  heater  when  we 
first  came  in,  but  the  heater  didn't  seem  to  draw 
just  right  and  there  was  more  or  less  smoke  in 
the  room  after  a  little  while,  smoke  that  kept 
getting  thicker  although  we  were  so  busy  trying 


BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS  183 

to  dissect  an  algebraical  conundrum  that  we  did 
not  pay  much  attention  to  it  until  we  began 
coughing.  Then  all  of  a  sudden  I  came  back 
from  unknown  X  to  solid  earth  and  looked  up. 
Just  at  that  time  something  caught  my  ear  and 
I  got  on  my  feet  and  opened  the  door  in  a 
mighty  hurry.  All  to  the  north,  east  and  west 
of  us  was  a  line  of  fire,  and  the  sparks  were  driv- 
ing overhead  thick  as  stars.  There  was  a 
blanket  of  smoke  just  beginning  to  settle  down 
upon  us  and  it  was  the  lower  strata  of  that 
which  I  had  thought  came  from  the  heater. 
And  now  that  there  was  no  door  between  it  and 
me  I  could  hear  the  roar  of  it,  sounding  a  good 
deal  like  a  train  going  over  a  bridge  a  long  ways 
off.  Then  I  heard  something  else  that  stirred 
me  into  life — a  quick  gasp  at  my  side  and  I 
whirled  around.  Barbara  Wines  was  stand- 
ing beside  me  with  her  hands  clasped,  and  her 
big  eyes  staring  into  the  infernal  furnace  before 
us,  white  as  a  snowbank  but,  as  I  found  out  a 
moment  later,  cool  as  one,  too. 

"I  didn't  wait  even  to  get  our  hats.  I  grabbed 
her  by  the  hand  and  away  we  went  tight  as  we 
could  jump  down  the  tote  road  to  the  south. 


184  BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS 

The  smoke  was  whirling  around  us  and  the 
sparks  stung  like  little  devils.  Half  a  dozen 
small  blazes  started  around  us  and  I  knew  our 
only  hope  lay  in  getting  into  Lake  Beaver,  half 
a  mile  beyond.  Barbara  was  running  as  well 
as  any  woman  in  skirts  could,  and  when  I  turned 
to  say  something  to  her  about  not  giving  up  she 
only  told  me  to  save  my  breath  for  things  that 
were  necessary.  We  made  the  lake  and  waded 
into  it  up  to  our  necks  and  between  heat  and 
smoke  it  was  the  most  uncomfortable  few  hours 
I  ever  put  in,  but  on  the  other  hand  it  was  one 
of  the  happiest  because  her  arms  were  around 
me  and  when  I  told  her  I  would  rather  die 
with  her  than  live  without  her  she  only  hung 
on  to  me  a  little  tighter  as  though  she  hated  to 
let  me  go.  And  that  night  was  the  official  be- 
ginning of  a  mutual  love  that  lasted  without  a 
skip  or  a  break  until  I  closed  her  eyes  for  the 
last  time  more  than  twenty  years  after.  But 
every  time  I  look  at  my  girl  I  see  her  mother 
too.  So  maybe  that  will  help  make  you  under- 
stand why  I  seem  a  little  over-fond  of  Barbara, 
even  for  a  father.  Don't  forget  to  keep  your 
eye  on  that  shack  when  you  ain't  busy,  and  if 


BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS  185 

you  catch  her  running  off  in  the  woods  by  her- 
self just  because  she  imagines  she  is  getting  a 
little  lonesome,  bring  her  back  bodily  the  way 
you  did  the  last  time  if  she  won't  come  any 
other  way.  If  she  scratches  you  I'll  raise  your 
pay  as  a  salve.  And  if  anybody  attempts  to 
seriously  molest  her  I'll  tell  you  what  I'll  do. 
I'll  stand  behind  you  with  my  last  dollar  and 
give  you  a  reward  of  merit  card  besides  if  you'll 
pick  up  something  and  kill  him  for  me.  Will 

you?" 

The  rich  color  of  the  younger  man's  weather- 
tanned  face  suddenly  turned  to  a  sickly  gray 
and  he  sank  into  a  chair  with  the  limpness  of 
one  who  is  suddenly  stricken  with  the  sickness 
of  death.  And  Findlay,  much  alarmed  at  see- 
ing the  uncanny  metamorphosis  that  followed 
his  last  words,  made  a  dash  for  a  drawer  from 
which  he  drew  a  bottle  half  filled  with  whisky. 
Hurriedly  filling  a  glass  he  thrust  it  before  his 
companion's  lips.  "What's  the  matter  with  you, 
man!  Your  face  looks  like  a  toadstool.  Drink 
this." 

The  sitter  shuddered  and  sat  erect.  A  dull 
red  glow  came  surging  where  the  ghastliness 


186  BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS 

had  been  and  he  leaped  to  his  feet  with  eyes 
lighted  by  a  great  anger.  One  savage  stroke 
he  made  and  the  glass  crashed  upon  the  floor; 
then  he  stood  before  his  employer  with  every 
muscle  in  a  quiver  from  a  passion  that  seemed 
about  to  burst  him  by  its  violence. 

"Findlay!"  he  cried  fiercely.  "I'll  look  after 
your  daughter  all  right,  and  I'll  do  it  as  earn- 
estly as  if  she  were  my  mother,  but  if  you  ever 
offer  me  another  drink  of  whisky  don't  be  sur- 
prised if  I  knock  you  flat." 

Out  of  the  door  he  went  with  a  rush,  leaving 
the  other  man  staring  after  him  in  a  daze  of 
bewilderment.  The  rapid  thump  of  his  foot- 
steps died  away  and  the  logger  kicked  the  frag- 
ments of  glass  into  a  corner  and  replaced  the 
bottle  from  whence  he  had  obtained  it. 

"Glad  he  don't  like  the  stuff,"  he  mused  as  he 
began  to  whistle  thoughtfully.  "  But  what  gets 
me  is  why  the  sin  he  first  got  white  at  what  I 
said,  then  all  of  a  sudden  got  so  darned  mad  just 
because  I  offered  him  a  drink  of  good  liquor." 


CHAPTER  XII 

FINDLAY  went  back  to  the  town  office  and 
Wilson  took  hold  of  his  new  work  with  a  grip 
that  quickly  made  him  the  master  of  it.  It 
was  only  elementary  bookkeeping  after  all,  in- 
volving little  more  than  common  sense  and  the 
logical  classification  of  added  and  subtracted  fig- 
ures ;  a  system  simple  to  understand  and  readily 
amenable  to  still  further  simplification.  Nor 
was  there  work  enough  about  his  new  position 
to  make  it  seem  more  than  play  to  one  who  had 
been  accustomed  to  as  many  hours  of  hard  labor 
per  day  as  had  this  new  wielder  of  the  pen. 
In  fact  when  night  came  he  scarcely  ever  was 
tired  enough  to  wish  to  go  to  bed,  and  as  he  took 
little  pleasure  in  spending  his  evenings  in  the 
close  atmosphere  of  the  boarding  house  bunk 
shanty,  he  often  sat  for  many  hours  in  his  little 
room  over  the  store  with  the  lamp  turned  low 
and  his  eyes  fastened  on  the  darkness  without, 
turning  them  from  time  to  time  to  the  little 

187 


188  BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS 

dwelling  upon  the  hill  crest  where  the  window 
lights  twinkled  star-like.  Day  times  he  occa- 
sionally came  down  from  the  top  of  his  stool 
to  wait  on  a  stray  customer  who  wished  a  piece 
of  tobacco  or  some  article  of  wearing  apparel, 
but  oftener  still  to  stretch  his  cramped  legs  for 
a  few  moments.  At  these  times  he  invariably 
made  it  his  business  to  step  to  the  door  for  a 
brief  inspection  of  the  Findlay  home.  Once  he 
caught  a  glimpse  of  Barbara  as  she  passed  the 
open  door,  but  the  distance  was  considerable 
and  if  she  saw  him  she  gave  no  sign.  He  used 
to  wonder  vaguely  at  these  times  how  she  passed 
the  long  hours  alone. 

But  Barbara,  although  her  household  duties 
were  light,  and  despite  the  fact  that  she  bustled 
about  them  as  though  oceans  of  work  lay  before 
her,  was  seldom  idle.  She  seemed  to  possess 
as  great  a  faculty  for  finding  work  still  to  be 
performed  as  she  did  of  performing  it  after  it 
was  found.  And  as  her  hands  were  seldom  still, 
so  were  her  lips  not  often  silent — now  humming 
some  air  of  her  schoolgirl  days,  now  formed  into 
a  rosy  pucker  from  which  came  shrill,  uncertain 
pipings  like  the  tentative  squeaks  of  a  young 


BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS  189 

rat ;  squeaks  that  sent  the  house  cat  slinking  into 
dark  corners  for  the  source  of  the  sounds  that 
mystified  it  beyond  feline  explanation.  For 
Barbara,  although  ever  ready  to  belittle  her 
full-throated  voice,  was  vanity  itself  when  it 
came  to  her  ridiculous  whistle.  The  weather 
had  been  grossly  disagreeable  for  some  time  and 
she  had  not  passed  from  beneath  the  roof.  Then 
one  day  as  the  cloud  curtain  drew  itself  aside  and 
the  sun  swung  boldly  into  view  she  stepped  to 
the  door  and  stood,  thought-engrossed,  looking 
down  upon  the  roofs  of  the  scattered  hamlet. 
Several  times  she  had  seen  Wilson  standing  at 
the  store  door  or  straightening  out  the  kinks  in 
his  legs  with  the  store  watch  dog  pacing  behind 
him,  and  now  sudden  determination  came  upon 
her;  a  determination  born  of  a  deep  sense  of 
obligation  and  a  touch  of  sympathy  for  his  lonely 
condition. 

"That  poor  man!  He  must  be  dreadfully 
bored  down  there  with  no  one  to  talk  to  except 
now  and  then  a  lumber  jack  after  another  bushel 
of  tobacco.  I  would  die  of  loneliness  if  I  had 
to  stay  in  such  a  place  alone.  I  wonder  if  he 
has  anything  to  read  evenings!  I'll  just  take 


190  BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS 

him  down  something."  So  she  hurried  to  the 
book  case  where  she  stopped  in  perplexity,  a 
faint  frown  wrinkling  her  forehead  and  her  hand 
^wandering  uncertainly  over  the  volumes  much 
as  a  bee  hovers  in  mid  air  over  a  blossom  bed  be- 
fore he  chooses  his  flower  and  makes  his  dart. 

"I  wish  I  knew  what  he  likes,  then  I  would 
know  what  to  take  him.  Love  stories!  He 
doesn't  seem  very  sentimental — more  practical. 
He  would  probably  laugh  up  his  sleeve  at  me 
if  I  took  him  one.  But  I  will  just  chance  this 
one  anyway  because  it  is  so  clever  and  its  ending 
is  such  a  surprise.  Then  of  course  most  men  like 
to  read  about  war  and  blood,  and  here  is  a  book 
that  has  a  horribly  interesting  fight  that  I  know 
he  will  revel  in,  and — "  her  fingers  made  another 
dart  and  she  plucked  forth  a  thin  volume  tri- 
umphantly— "this  volume  of  scriptural  quota- 
tions is  just  the  thing  for  Sunday  reading.  I 
know  he  has  never  read  it,  and  besides,  it  will 
counteract  the  book  with  the  fight  in  it."  She 
deftly  wrapped  the  selected  volumes  into  a  pack- 
age and  started  down  the  hill  full  of  the  self- 
patting  complaisance  of  the  righteous  who  invade 


BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS  191 

the  haunts  of  the  benighted,  Wilson,  loudly 
adding  up  a  column,  lost  his  count  at  the  first 
sight  of  her  face  and  advanced  a  few  steps  to 
meet  her.  He  was  genuinely  delighted  that  she 
had  come,  told  her  so,  and  took  the  books  thank- 
fully. "No,  he  had  not  read  any  of  them,  but 
he  certainly  should  devour  them  all.  It  was 
very  thoughtful  of  her  and  very  agreeable  to  one 
to  be  remembered  by  certain  people." 

His  manifest  appreciation  of  her  charity  de- 
lighted her,  and  at  once  she  started  in  to  tell  him 
about  the  love  story.  Rapidly  she  unrolled  its 
intricate  plot,  skimming  swallow-like  over  the 
minor  details  but  pouncing  upon  its  crises  to  hold 
them  triumphantly  before  him  as  she  dwelt  im- 
pressively upon  the  trials  of  hero  and  heroine. 
Then  with  infinite  satisfaction  she  told  him  the 
unexpected  climax,  when  the  cunning  spinner  of 
the  yarn  had  by  a  deft  move  gathered  up  the 
loosely  woven  strands  and,  presto!  tied  a  nuptial 
knot  that  ended  all  just  when  one  thought  the 
feat  impossible. 

"Wasn't  that  fine?"  she  inquired  eager  for  ap- 
plause of  her  recital  and  confirmation  of  her 


192  BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS 

taste.  He  nodded,  a  small,  queer  smile  about 
his  lips  as  he  gazed  at  the  volume  which  he  had 
been  turning  over  mechanically  as  she  spoke. 

"Decidedly.  But  I  don't  think  I  care  to  read 
it."  Instantly  Barbara  became  bolt  upright  in 
her  chair  as  she  stared  at  him  in  amazement. 

"Why  not?"  she  gasped. 

"Simply  because  you  have  told  me  all  about 
it  much  more  interestingly  than  could  any  au- 
thor. Why,  therefore,  should  I  read  it  when  I 
already  know  the  plot,  the  crises  and  the  ingeni- 
ous finale  for  which  I  had  waited  with  a  scarcely 
beating  heart?" 

"Oh!"  said  Barbara. 

He  smiled  flatteringly.  "Wouldn't  it  be  like 
tediously  crawling  over  a  landscape  that  you  had 
just  seen  from  Pegasus's  back?"  He  asked  her 
this  cooly  and  provokingly,  wishing  to  tease  her 
for  a  moment  just  to  see  what  she  would  do. 

"Then  I  have  robbed  you  of  the  pleasure  of 
reading  the  story  by  my  tiresome  chatter,"  she 
returned  coldly,  her  chin  giving  itself  an  upward 
tilt.  He  thought  it  time  to  begin  to  be  mollify- 
ing. 

"On  the  contrary  you  have  given  me  the  much 


BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS  193 

greater  pleasure  of  listening  to  your  rendition. 
A  good  story  well  told  makes  the  reading  of  it 
afterwards  flat,  stale  and  unprofitable.  What 
are  our  great  actors  but  our  great  story  tellers? 
Who  would  not  rather  see  Jefferson's  Rip  than 
read  Irving's?  Who — " 

She  interrupted  him  icily.  "Indeed!  I  re- 
member now  how  bored  and  fidgety  you  were — 
turning  the  book  over  and  over  and  saying  'yes> 
yes,'  like  a  ninny  while  I  jabbered  on.  And  the 
worst  of  it  is  that  I  was  a  bigger  ninny,  for  I 
imagined  that  I  was  interesting  you."  She  took 
a  step  towards  him,  her  mouth  compressed  into 
a  horizontal  wrinkle.  "But  how  did  I  know  you 
would  not  read  the  last  page  first  the  way  every 
one  else  does?  Give  me  my  book." 

"But  Miss  Findlay — just  a  moment — 
please — " 

"No,  I  don't  want  to  listen  to  you.  I  am  go- 
ing to  leave  before  I  say  something  that  will 
spoil  the  other  two.  I  want  my  book."  She 
seized  the  volume  from  his  hand  and  had  opened 
the  door  before  he  could  fairly  get  his  tongue  in 
action. 

"Come  back,"  he  wailed.     "I'll  read  it  every 


194  BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS 

word — twice."  The  sharp  shutting  of  the  door 
was  her  reply,  but  she  had  not  taken  a  dozen 
steps  before  he  was  standing  upon  the  platform 
and  pleading  against  her  rapidly  vanishing  back. 
"Wait.  I  want  to  explain.  Please  wait  and 
give  a  fellow  a  chance,  won't  you?"  But  her 
head  still  remained  high  and  her  feet  beat  the 
path  in  a  lively  tattoo.  He  had  never  seen  her 
vexed  like  this  before,  and  although  he  knew  her 
impulsiveness  his  surprise  at  her  was  only 
equaled  by  the  self -anger  that  arose  within  him. 
To  offend  and  wound  her  was  bad  enough,  but 
in  addition  to  that  to  drive  her  away  just  when 
he  would  have  given  a  tooth  to  keep  her  there 
was  almost  enough  to  make  one  bite  his  tongue 
in  twain.  And  all  because  of  his  anserine  stu- 
pidity! To  be  sure  he  had  no  more  intended  to 
offend  her  than  she  had  intended  to  spoil  the 
story  for  reading  purposes,  but  he  had  only  been 
amused  and  entertained  whereas  she  had  lost  her 
temper  completely.  He  could  not  understand  it. 
Barbara  Findlay  with  her  keen  sense  of  humor 
losing  her  temper  over  a  thing  as  ridiculous  as 
this!  Barbara  Findlay  with  her  love  of  teasing 
not  liking  to  be  teased  herself!  But  she  was 


BARBARA, OF  THE  SNOWS  195 

gone,  probably  never  to  return,  and  it  was  all 
his  fault.  Ass  inconceivable.  Idiot  unspeak- 
able. Fool  incomparable.  Ass,  Idiot,  Fool. 
He  bit  his  lip  and  thoroughly  enjoyed  the  pain 
that  followed. 

From  half  way  up  the  hill  there  came  back 
to  him  a  laugh  that  bubbled  and  grew  until  it 
was  suffocated  by  a  white  palm  suddenly  clapped 
over  guilty  lips.  And  the  girl  hurrying  more 
than  ever  now  ran  up  the  steps  and  darted  in 
the  house  with  the  quickness  of  a  rabbit  disap- 
pearing in  its  warren,  while  the  one  below,  star- 
ing after  her  blankly  for  a  moment,  turned  into 
the  store  with  a  sigh  of  relief  in  the  consciousness 
of  having  been  thoroughly  humbugged.  It  had 
been  Barbara's  joke  from  the  beginning.  She 
had  started  in  to  tell  him  the  story  expecting  him 
to  protest,  and  had  he  done  so  she  would  un- 
doubtedly have  dropped  the  real  narrative  and 
gone  to  inventing  just  to  see  what  he  would  do. 
But  he  had  not  protested  and  therefore  she  had 
kept  truthfully  on  to  the  end.  Then  he  had  at- 
tempted to  mildly  irritate  her  by  his  provoking 
tones,  and  she  had  recognized  his  intent  and 
taken  the  game  into  her  own  hands.  She  had 


196  BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS 

probably  intended  to  go  away  much  insulted, 
leaving  him  to  wrack  his  brains  as  to  how  to  apol- 
ogize to  her  until  she  forgave  him  of  her  own  ac- 
cord, but  the  laugh  had  betrayed  her  and  the 
game  was  up.  They  were  quits. 

And  if  in  the  weeks  that  came  thereafter 
Barbara  went  to  the  store  for  small  household 
needs  full  as  often  as  necessity  demanded,  and 
if  finding  herself  there  she  listened  to  his  wishes 
that  she  remain  a  while  and  thus  break  the  mo- 
notony of  their  lives,  who  is  there  with  spirit 
mean  enough  to  have  denied  them?  Findlay 
was  seldom  home,  and  when  he  was  his  visits  with 
the  girl  bore  the  sanctity  of  close  family  affairs. 
That  no  insinuating  tongue  could  by  any  possi- 
bility be  stirred,  Wilson  would  not  have  called 
at  her  home  during  the  father's  absence  even  had 
she  granted  him  that  permission,  and  grant  him 
that  permission  she  certainly  did  not.  But  that 
they  should  broaden  their  acquaintance  at  this 
public  place  of  trade  in  the  broad  light  of  day 
was  quite  another  matter  and  nothing  more  nat- 
ural beneath  the  sun.  It  was  but  the  uncon- 
scious listening  to  nature's  call;  the  willing  obe- 
dience to  the  primal  law  which  has  drawn  woman 


BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS  197 

to  man  and  man  to  woman  through  all  the  ages 
innumerable.  For  he  was  tall  and  strong  and 
good  to  look  upon  through  a  woman's  eyes, 
agreeable  as  well;  and  tall,  strong  men  who  are 
good  to  look  upon  and  agreeable  as  well  have 
been  of  interest  to  women  since  the  beginning. 
Then  as  if  that  were  not  enough,  he  was  the  only 
specimen  of  his  kind  available;  which  was  a  cir- 
cumstance of  tremendous  import  in  itself  alone. 
Strange  would  it  have  been  if  Wilson  in  his  lone- 
liness had  not  pleaded.  Almost  stranger  had 
she  not  sometimes  granted.  It  was  kismet. 

Spring  came  with  the  first  breath  of  the  south 
fanning  the  cheeks  soft  as  the  brush  of  a  feather, 
followed  by  lukewarm  rains  that  pitted  the 
bosom  of  the  snow  and  turned  the  erstwhile 
brittle  coverlet  of  the  river  into  a  rotten  honey- 
comb. Stray  ducks  came  whistling  close  over- 
head, and  every  now  and  then  the  ear  caught  the 
muffled  drummings  of  a  partridge  as  he  beat  the 
long  roll  call  for  his  hiding  mate.  Day  by  day 
the  growing  warmth  of  the  sun's  smile  warmed 
the  cold  bosom  of  the  earth,  and  day  by  day 
the  snows  sickened  and  the  ice  wasted  consump- 
tively until  the  tote  roads  were  awash  with 


198  BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS 

slush  and  the  going  anywhere  from  ankle  to 
knee-deep.  It  was  upon  a  Sunday  morning  that 
Wilson,  lazily  wandering  storeward  from  the 
boarding  house  after  dinner,  seated  himself  upon 
a  box  with  his  back  against  the  office  to  bask, 
eyes  shut,  in  the  almost  forgotten  luxury  of  a 
sun  bath  when  he  heard  light  footsteps  coming 
nearer  and  unclosed  his  eyes.  He  had  not  seen 
Barbara  for  nearly  a  week,  worse  luck  to  it,  and 
therefore  was  even  more  pleased  that  usual  to 
behold  her.  Her  boots  were  spattered  with 
muddy  slush  to  the  bottom  of  her  short  walking 
skirt,  and  she  looked  at  the  brooklets  and  puddles 
that  bounded  her  on  every  side  with  displeasure 
plainly  written  upon  her  face. 

"I  have  not  been  out  of  the  house  for  nearly 
a  week  and  am  suffocating  for  fresh  air,"  she 
announced  after  bidding  him  a  good  afternoon. 
"I  don't  mind  wading  through  clean  snow  even 
if  it  is  deep,  but  I  despise  mud  and  I  abominate 
slush.  I  want  to  go  somewhere  and  I  wish  I 
had  a  horse." 

Wilson  had  got  upon  his  feet  at  her  arrival 
and  he  sympathized  with  her  fully.  She  had  ex- 
pressed his  own  idea  and  wishes  to  a  dot,  and  he 


BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS  199 

looked  helplessly  at  the  water-mottled  snowscape. 
Had  he  possessed  a  kingdom  and  had  someone 
else  thereabouts  owned  a  horse  and  side  saddle, 
the  chances  would  have  been  about  equal  for  an 
exchange  of  properties,  so  much  would  he  have 
liked  to  please  her.  But  such  not  being  the  case 
he  could  not  but  present  her  with  his  regrets. 
In  fact  he  had  already  spoken  the  first  few  words 
of  his  lament  when  he  hesitated,  laughed  a  little, 
and  stepping  across  the  nearby  railroad  track 
began  to  tug  at  a  railroad  velocipede  that  stood 
beneath  the  shelter  of  a  small  shed  where  it  had 
been  left  by  the  section  foreman.  "I'll  do  better 
than  get  you  a  horse — I'll  take  you  out  in  a  mo- 
tor car,"  he  grunted  between  tugs. 

"Take  me  out  on  that!"  she  exclaimed  as  she 
walked  around  it  with  a  dubious  face.  "I  never 
heard  of  such  a  thing." 

"I  know  it.  But  why  not  as  well  as  on  a  tan- 
dem?" 

"I  don't  know." 

"Neither  do  I.     So  come." 

"But  I  can't  kick  hard  enough  to  make  it  go 
and  it  would  tire  you  out  to  do  it  all  alone." 

He  swung  the  machine  upon  the  rails  and  ig- 


200  BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS 

noring  her  protests  waved  her  to  the  inside  seat 
of  the  vehicle.  "Leave  the  getting  tired  part 
to  me.  All  you  will  have  to  do  will  be  to  re- 
main perfectly  quiet  and  do  all  the  talking.  I'll 
make  all  the  other  motions  and  keep  perfectly 
still."  Hanging  back,  yet  advancing,  protesting 
that  she  knew  they  would  have  a  wreck  and  both 
be  killed,  she  at  last  took  her  seat  upon  the  inner 
end  of  the  board  and  dropped  her  feet  to  the 
stationary  rest.  Wilson  took  his  seat  upon  the 
other  side  and  shoved  his  boots  into  the  iron 
stirrups;  then  seized  the  cross  pumping  bar 
firmly  with  both  hands. 

His  powerful  legs  pushed  forward  like  steam- 
driven  pistons  and  his  broad  shoulders  came 
back  with  a  tug  that  had  the  full  weight  of  his 
body  in  it  and  the  miniature  car  gave  a  forward 
leap.  Back  and  forth  he  swung  with  the  rhyth- 
mic movements  of  a  finished  oarsman  and  the 
first  low  purr  of  the  cog  wheels  arose  to  a  whine. 
Increasing  the  rapidity  of  his  stroke  as  momen- 
tum was  gained  he  sent  the  "pede"  scuttling 
along  the  rails  like  a  fleeing  creature;  darted 
over  the  trestle  that  spanned  the  river  with  a  clat- 
tering roar;  swung  around  a  curve  and  plunged 


BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS  201 

into  the  narrow  aisle  that  led  straight  into  the 
far-away  between  the  solid  ranks  of  the  towering 
forest  armies.  Vagrant  wisps  of  bright  hair 
snatched  from  place  by  the  whipping  rush  of 
air  fluttered  about  her  temples  and  her  enthusi- 
asm mounted  with  the  growing  speed.  The 
fragrance  of  the  woodland  was  about  them; 
scents  from  leaves  born  that  very  day;  from 
buds  swelling  with  a  life  new  to  them;  from 
maples  bursting  with  sweetness;  from  cedar; 
from  fir;  from  balsam;  from  pine,  all  yielding 
up  their  incense  to  the  sun  god  in  one  faint 
perfume  of  incomparable  blending.  The  light 
in  the  girl's  eyes  grew  brighter  and  she  laughed 
contentedly.  Her  cheeks  flushed  with  the  joy 
of  motion  and  her  strong  young  limbs  clamored 
for  a  part  in  the  graceful  sway  of  the  man  who 
was  driving  them  on.  She  dropped  her  feet  to 
the  moving  stirrups  and  caught  the  driving  bar 
as  it  swung  near  her  chest.  He  shook  his  head 
warningly,  but  she  bobbed  hers  defiantly  and 
the  next  instant  was  swaying  in  unison  with 
him.  Three  miles  they  reeled  off  in  thrice  as 
many  minutes,  the  girl's  delight  increasing  as 
each  cross  post  arose  before  them  in  the  distance, 


202  BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS 

rushed  down  upon  them  and  then  leaped  past  to 
join  its  vanishing  fellows.  "Faster.  Faster,'* 
she  urged. 

Only  too  willing  to  humor  her,  Wilson  re- 
sponded instantly,  putting  all  the  strength  of 
arms,  back  and  legs  into  a  mighty  heave.  And 
unscientifically  balanced  by  the  novices  who 
drove  it,  the  light  machine  reared  like  a  mustang 
beneath  a  quirt  slash  and,  leaping  the  track,  went 
thumping  over  the  ties  in  a  series  of  wild  buck- 
ings that  lasted  for  a  dozen  yards  and  terminated 
with  a  rear  kick  that  all  but  unseated  them. 
As  he  had  seen  the  first  wheel  leap  from  the  rail, 
Wilson  had  thrown  his  arm  tightly  around  the 
waist  by  his  side,  and  with  his  free  hand  clutch- 
ing the  seat  hung  on  to  girl  and  machine  with 
the  grip  of  death  until  the  cessation  of  motion. 
So  now  they  there  sat  precariously  perched  upon 
a  machine  that  was  as  inert  as  a  log,  her  hat 
jolted  over  her  forehead  and  his  gone  entirely, 
looking  into  each  other's  eyes  with  an  expression 
that  was  half  apprehension  and  half  disgust. 
There  was  no  more  necessity  that  he  should  con- 
tinue to  sit  with  his  arm  around  her  now  than 
that  he  should  encircle  a  tree  with  it,  yet  sit  there 


BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS  203 

without  movement  he  did  until  beyond  all  ques- 
tion what  the  moment  before  had  been  a  protect- 
ing and  entirely  justifiable  clasp,  had  through 
the  stoppage  of  the  car  been  transformed  into 
an  entirely  inexcusable  hug.  For  several  sec- 
onds neither  embraced  nor  embracer  seemed  to 
realize  that  circumstances  had  suddenly  changed, 
and  that  changed  circumstances  often  greatly 
alter  cases,  then  mutual  comprehension  came  and 
the  girl's  eyes,  which  had  been  wide  and  round 
and  looking  full  into  his,  dropped  guiltily.  And 
at  the  falling  of  her  lashes  his  arm  followed  suit 
as  though  smitten  by  paralysis. 

She  slipped  from  the  seat  and  started  away. 
"I  told  you  we  would  run  off  the  track,"  she  as- 
serted. Walking  to  a  nearby  pile  of  logs  that 
bordered  the  rails  she  seated  herself  near  its 
base  where  she  removed  her  hat  and  began  re- 
arranging her  tumbled  hair.  As  for  Wilson,  he 
gathered  up  his  own  flown  headgear  and  began 
walking  around  the  derailed  machine  with  an 
expression  of  perplexity. 

"I  understand  now  how  it  came  about,"  he 
called  to  her  after  a  bit.  "You  see  we  didn't 
balance  it  correctly  when  we  got  on.  The  seat 


204  BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS 

and  gear  are  over  the  right-hand  rail,  and  when 
two  people  are  on  the  machine  there  is  compar- 
atively little  weight  resting  on  the  other  rail.  In 
order  to  nullify  the  centrifugal  force  of  rapid 
motion,  the  heavier  person  should  always  sit  on 
the  left  or  inside  seat.  That  counterbalances  the 
weight  of  the  machinery  and  the  lighter  person 
and  distributes  the  weight  on  both  rails  more 
evenly.  Instead  of  doing  that  we  reversed  the 
proposition — " 

"And  came  very  near  being  reversed  our- 
selves," retorted  the  girl  from  a  mouth  that  bris- 
tled with  hairpins. 

"Yes.  If  we  had  been  seated  the  other  way 
it  could  not  have  happened."  He  started  to- 
wards her  satisfied  that  his  explanation  had  been 
sufficient  to  convince  any  reasoning  person. 
"Of  course,  you  understand,"  he  went  on  confi- 
dently. 

She  halted  him  with  a  quick  gesture.  "Of 
course  I  do  not.  And  I  would  not  believe  a 
word  of  it  if  I  did.  It  is  pure  fiction  invented 
by  you  to  deceive  me.  Didn't  I  tell  you  it  would 
happen?  And  should  not  I  know  well  enough 
by  this  that  every  time  I  see  you  something  will 


BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS  205 

go  wrong?  No,  don't  you  come  a  step  nearer. 
This  log  pile  would  fall  down  and  crush  us  both 
if  you  stepped  a  foot  on  it." 

He  placed  his  hat  where  it  belonged.  "I'd 
just  as  soon  be  here  anyway,"  he  returned,  be- 
ginning to  whistle  indifferently.  He  fell  upon 
the  machine  and  swung  it  around  so  that  it 
pointed  towards  Archer,  but  allowed  it  to  remain 
unlifted  from  the  ties.  Having  done  that  he 
sat  down  upon  the  frame  and  became  engrossed 
with  her  nimble  fingers  as  they  darted  here  and 
there  in  her  hasty  hair  dressing.  This  she  fin- 
ished and  sat  looking  at  another  pile  of  logs 
opposite  where  she  was,  her  profile  turned  to- 
wards him  and  never  a  glance  his  way.  Five 
silent  minutes  passed  and  the  man  began  to 
fidget.  As  to  just  how  serious  she  was  in  her 
declarations  he  was  uncertain,  but  he  now  re- 
solved to  find  out.  "May  I  come  and  sit  on  that 
other  pile  of  logs  just  across  from  where  you 
are?"  he  called. 

Her  head  shook  rapidly.  "It  seems  safe 
enough  provided  you  kept  that  far  away,  but  I 
know  it  would  be  tempting  fate.  You  had  better 
not  come — just  yet."  He  made  a  preliminary 


206  BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS 

move  towards  going  despite  her  time-qualified 
refusal,  then  abruptly  paused  and  reseated  him- 
self. For  emerging  from  a  woods  trail  that  led 
to  the  railroad  came  a  man  with  the  form  of  a 
Hercules,  yet  who  despite  his  great  size  moved 
with  the  elasticity  of  a  lynx.  A  towering,  steel- 
blue-eyed  giant,  he  bore  a  head  of  golden  hair 
beneath  which  was  a  face  that  would  have  held 
one's  eyes  even  had  there  been  a  less  magnificent 
pair  of  shoulders  beneath  it.  It  was  a  profile 
strong  of  nose  and  chin,  but  sullen  of  mouth  and 
passion-marked — a  face  nobly  designed  in  the 
mind  of  the  sculptor,  yet  spoiled  in  the  execution. 
The  flannel  shirt,  open  one  button  at  the  neck, 
showed  a  throat  broad  and  white,  and  the  top- 
most inch  of  the  chest  that  was  revealed  swelled 
outward  from  the  base  of  the  neck  like  a  billow. 
His  closely  fitting  trousers  were  tucked  into  the 
tops  of  cruising  boots,  and  when  he  leaped  the 
ditch  and  came  up  the  low  embankment  the 
outlines  of  magnificent  leg  muscles  were  clearly 
revealed  beneath  the  cloth.  At  the  top  of  the 
grade  his  eyes  dropped  to  the  man  seated  upon 
the  machine  and  he  became  motionless. 

He  seemed  upon  the  verge  of  speaking  when 


BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS  207 

a  slight  movement  on  the  part  of  Barbara  caught 
the  corner  of  his  eye  and  he  swung  his  face  to- 
wards her.  Unmistakable  perplexity  showed  it- 
self in  his  every  feature  as  without  speaking  he 
glanced  from  the  man  to  the  girl  and  back  again, 
then  noting  that  the  machine  was  derailed  he 
seemed  to  comprehend.  He  removed  his  broad 
brimmed  hat  and  bowed  to  her,  and  Wilson  could 
not  but  marvel  at  the  change  wrought  upon  his 
features  by  his  smile.  The  sullen  mouth  became 
a  pleasing  one  set  with  strong  rows  of  even  teeth, 
and  the  steel  in  the  eyes  melted  to  a  softness  that 
made  them  seem  almost  kindly.  And  when  he 
spoke  as  his  hat  settled  upon  his  golden  crown 
again  there  was  a  deep-toned  harp  vibrant  in 
his  voice. 

"Good  day,  Miss  Findlay.  I  presume  we  are 
mutually  surprised.  You  have  been  in  a  rail- 
road wreck,  I  see."  She  acquiesced. 

"Yes,  it  was  dreadful.  Only  two  left  alive." 
She  arose  and  turned  towards  Wilson  who  got 
upon  his  feet  as  well.  "Mr.  Cardiff  and  Mr. 
Wilson,  it  is  inevitable  that  you  should  know 
each  other.  And  as  natural  business  foes  I  am 
delighted  that  you  should  meet  first  upon  neutral 


208  BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS 

ground.  Mr.  Cardiff,  as  everyone  hereabouts 
knows,  is  woods  manager  of  the  Badger  Com- 
pany, while  Mr.  Wilson — "  she  paused  in  her 
introduction,  hesitated  after  the  manner  of  one 
who  mentally  debates  swiftly,  then  completed 
her  sentence  almost  defiantly,  "is  our  local  man- 
ager." 

A  faint  smile  half  of  amusement  and  half  of 
contempt  swept  across  Cardiff's  face,  and  Wil- 
son felt  the  sharp  sting  of  humiliation  and  anger. 
Keenly  enough  he  realized  the  desire  on  Bar- 
bara's part  to  champion  him  and  put  him  upon 
an  equal  footing  with  this  man,  who  next  to 
the  owners  was  the  head  of  the  big  business  cor- 
poration with  whom  her  father  had  waged  so 
long  and  fierce  a  battle;  but  still  more  keenly 
did  he  realize  the  ridiculousness  of  such  a  cham- 
pionship. It  was  as  absurd  as  would  have  been 
the  introducing  of  a  corporal  under  the  title  of 
brigadier,  and  Wilson  would  have  infinitely  pre- 
ferred that  she  had  designated  him  as  "one  of 
our  lumber  jacks"  than  try  and  promote  him  be- 
fore the  one  who  was  now  laughing  before  his 
face.  But  he  only  smiled  carelessly  as  he  thrust 
out  his  hand. 


BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS  209 

"Which  in  other  words,  Mr.  Cardiff,  means 
that  I  am  Mr.  Findlay's  storekeeper  and  book- 
keeper at  Archer,"  he  explained,  growing  se- 
cretly joyful  as  he  became  cognizant  of  the  fact 
that  the  one  who  had  misrepresented  him  to  his 
humiliation  was  now  in  turn  squirming.  Car- 
diff nodded  his  understanding. 

"Draws  the  same  pay  whatever  job  you  call 
it,"  he  announced.  He  thrust  out  his  hand  and 
his  fingers  closed  about  those  of  the  other  with 
the  constricting  power  of  an  anaconda.  And 
as  Wilson  met  the  pressure  pound  for  pound 
they  stood  eyeing  each  other  at  point  blank  range, 
motionless,  but  straining  like  two  bull  moose  who 
lock  antlers  in  a  semi-friendly  testing  of  each  , 
other's  strength.  But  Wilson  relaxed  his  mus- 
cles not  a  whit,  and  closer  and  more  vise-like 
grew  Cardiff's  compress  until  a  stinging  pain 
ran  up  the  other's  arm  and  threatened  to  turn 
his  placid  smile  into  a  grimace  of  pain.  Then, 
just  when  a  yielding  seemed  inevitable,  the  blond 
giant  dropped  the  bloodless  knuckles  and  turned 
his  back  almost  squarely  upon  the  storekeeper. 
Whereat  Wilson  shifted  his  shoulders  as  well 
and  the  pair  stood  flank  to  flank,  each  to  all 


210  BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS 

appearances  unconscious  that  the  other  lived. 
The  girl  had  been  watching  them  intently  with 
silent  interest. 

Cardiff  spoke  to  her.  "If  you  have  a  few 
moments  to  spare,  suppose  we  sit  down  and  have 
a  little  visit.  It  has  been  quite  a  time  since  we 
had  a  confab,  you  know."  No  voice  could  have 
been  more  deferential  than  was  that  of  the  son- 
orous-toned man  now  addressing  her,  yet  Bar- 
bara seemed  to  be  edging  from  him  at  his  every 
word.  There  was  no  perceptible  movement  of 
her  feet  and  her  face  was  as  placidly  expression- 
less as  a  mirror  confronting  space,  yet  unmis- 
takably the  distance  between  herself  and  the 
speaker  was  steadily  growing  greater.  This 
fact  and  her  reply  tickled  Wilson  hugely. 

"Really,  I  don't  believe  I  should  remain  away 
from  home  any  longer,  Mr.  Cardiff.  I  think 
we  must  be  going,  for  as  you  can  see  it  is  be- 
coming— "  she  shot  a  sly  glance  at  the  ignor- 
ing pair  as  she  huddled  herself  together  with  a 
little  shiver, — "decidedly  chilly." 

A  glint  of  anger  flashed  in  the  woods  man- 
ager's eyes  and  he  stepped  back  a  pace.  Wilson 
lifted  the  "pede"  to  the  rails  and  assisted  the 


BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS  211 

girl  to  the  outer  seat.  Barbara's  farewell  bid- 
ding at  the  starting  of  the  machine  was  a  faint 
smile  and  a  wave  of  the  hand;  Wilson's  a  half- 
inch  nod  of  the  head;  Cardiff's  a  lifting  of  the 
hat  to  her  and  a  complete  ignoring  of  the  one 
who  sat  by  her  side.  And  whatever  the  cause 
of  it  might  have  been,  the  girl  pumping  steadily 
along  the  miles  remained  quiet  beyond  all  prece- 
dent ;  while  Wilson  after  a  few  attempts  to  draw 
her  into  a  conversation  grew  silent  as  well.  So 
they  finished  the  last  half  of  the  way  without 
speaking  and  at  the  store  bade  each  other  a 
formal  "good-day"  and  went  their  respective 
ways  immediately.  But  she  remained  in  Wil- 
son's mind  even  more  persistently  than  usual 
that  evening. 


CHAPTER  XIII 

THE  ice  broke  in  the  river  and  the  great  drive 
of  the  Badger  Lumber  Company  was  on.  For 
miles  along  the  North  Branch,  and  for  other  miles 
along  its  tributaries,  hundreds  of  men  were  toil- 
ing with  cant-hook  and  peavy,  and  into  the  flood 
loosened  by  the  upper  gates  the  logs  went  tum- 
bling. At  the  high  rollways  the  splashing  and 
plunging  was  tremendous. 

Findlay  daily  grew  more  nervous.  "Don't 
like  the  way  old  Meyer  is  acting  up,"  he  confided 
to  his  storekeeper  one  day  as  the  big  drive  of  his 
rivals  was  drawing  to  a  close.  "  He's  got  the 
main  body  of  his  stuff  down  already  and  in  a 
couple  of  days  more  he  will  be  through.  Asked 
him  yesterday  when  I  should  start  my  stuff  and 
he  looked  at  me  sideways  for  a  second  like  a 
hog  going  to  war  and  then  rubbed  his  hands 
together.  'Don't  be  in  a  hurry,  John,'  he  says. 
'You  know  how  you  can  trust  me.'  Well, 
that's  just  it.  I  do  know  how  I  can  trust  him. 

212 


BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS  218 

I  wouldn't  believe  anything  he  said  if  I  knew 
it  was  true.  Now,  what  do  you  suppose  he 
meant  when  he  said  that?" 

"I  haven't  an  idea." 

"Then  I've  got  you  tied.  Neither  have  I. 
But  whatever  it  is  there  is  pretty  sure  to  be 
sleight-of-hand  back  of  it.  However,  I  presume 
I'll  find  out  soon  enough." 

And  he  did.  That  very  day  the  upper  gates 
were  closed,  and  the  next  morning  the  North 
Branch  was  a  flat,  placid  stream,  shallow  and 
bar  interspersed,  impassable  even  by  a  rowboat. 
Immediately  Findlay  sought  out  Meyer  and  de- 
manded that  the  latter  give  him  flood  water  that 
he  might  float  his  logs  down;  whereat  the  other 
man  threw  aside  his  mask  and  faced  him  un- 
compromisingly. He  was  a  wiry  man,  half 
Scotch  and  half  Jew,  keen,  absolutely  unscrupu- 
lous and  afraid  of  nothing  mortal. 

"If  you  want  water  go  and  hire  a  rain-maker. 
I  built  those  dams  and  spent  thousands  of  dol- 
lars in  clearing  out  the  upper  creeks  and  making 
them  usable.  Our  company  came  into  this 
country  and  broke  the  way  when  you  were  riding 
logs  for  us,  and  we  have  riparian  rights  here 


214  BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS 

which  the  courts  have  recognized.  Heretofore 
I  have  given  you  water  out  of  pure  charity  and 
because  I  wanted  to  help  you  along.  To  repay 
me  you  underbid  me  on  a  tie  contract  and  think 
you  can  buck  me  all  up  and  down  the  line. 
Maybe  you  are  big  enough  and  maybe  you  ain't. 
Try  it."  Findlay  began  to  grow  angry. 

"I'll  admit  that  you  came  here  first  and  got 
rich  stealing  government  pine  while  I  scratched 
along  on  my  own  holdings  and  paid  for  every 
tree  I  cut.  And  I'll  further  admit  that  you 
spent  your  money  and  lobbied  down  at  the  legis- 
lature until  you  got  certain  unjust  laws  passed 
which  favor  you.  You  have  got  first  call  on 
these  waters  and  nobody  denies  it,  but  you  can't 
own  them  until  you  own  the  heavens  that  they 
fall  out  of.  Now  you  have  had  all  the  flood  you 
need  and  it  is  up  to  you  to  let  me  have  the  rest. 
You  open  those  gates." 

"I'll  be  double  damned  if  I  do." 

"Then  I'll  open  them  for  you." 

Meyer  slowly  opened  the  door  of  his  safe  and 
took  from  the  interior  the  copy  of  a  paper.  "I 
guess  you'll  think  twice  about  it  after  you  have 
read  this.  I  thought  you  might  be  inclined  to 


BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS  215 

be  quarrelsome,  so  I  concluded  to  anticipate  you. 
You're  smart  enough,  John,  but  you  don't  get 
up  early  enough  for  old  Meyer.  Here  is  an 
injunction  issued  by  Judge  Blanke  of  the  cir- 
cuit court,  enjoining  anyone  from  opening  those 
upper  gates  or  in  any  way  monkeying  with  them. 
It  also  authorizes  me  to  prevent  any  interference 
with  them  by  all  force  necessary.  I  have  got  a 
lot  of  men  stationed  there  armed  with  rifles,  and 
while  we  don't  want  to  hurt  anybody,  if  anyone 
is  fool  enough  to  try  and  violate  this  court  order 
we  are  empowered  to  defend  its  mandates. 
Want  to  read  it?" 

Findlay  read  the  injunction  with  a  sinking 
heart  and  a  rising  rage.  It  was  tyrannical,  ab- 
solute, sweeping.  Meyer  was  given  authority 
to  keep  the  gates  down,  "using  all  due  force 
necessary,"  and  those  words  meant  that  he  might 
kill  in  defense  of  the  property  placed  within  his 
charge,  while  should  others  kill  them  it  would 
be  murder  pure  and  simple.  It  was  the  case  of 
a  man's  dam  being  his  castle.  Findlay  threw 
the  paper  down  with  a  curse. 

"It's  infamous,  and  of  course  I  know  how  you 
got  it.  Judge  Blanke  who  issued  it  is  both  your 


216  BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS 

tool  and  your  fool.  He  is  a  scoundrel  of  the 
dirtiest  water,  and  that  is  why  I  opposed  his 
election,  and  that  is  why  you  contributed  to  his 
campaign  fund.  Now  he  is  getting  even  with 
both  of  us  by  issuing  this  injunction."  Meyer 
seemed  pleased. 

"Go  and  tell  him  that  and  maybe  he  will  set 
it  aside." 

"I've  told  him  often  enough  that  he  was  a 
scoundrel,  and  evidently  he  hasn't  forgotten  it. 
But  thank  the  lord  there  are  courts  above  him. 
The  supreme  court  would  not  let  an  order  like 
that  remain  in  force  for  five  minutes  if  it  was 
brought  to  their  notice." 

"Then  why  don't  you  go  before  the  supreme 
court.  It  meets  again  only  next  fall,  you  know." 

Findlay  strode  away  in  a  rage  which  made  his 
face  a-glower;  at  his  wit's  end  for  all  of  that. 
Judge  Blanke  in  addition  to  being  an  unscrupu- 
lous, pettifogging  politician,  whom  Meyer's  in- 
fluence and  money  had  nominated  and  elected, 
was  Findlay's  bitterest  enemy,  and  the  latter  well 
knew  that  to  appeal  to  him  for  justice  was  to  cast 
pearls  before  swine.  And  as  Meyer  had  said,  he 
would  not  be  able  to  bring  the  matter  before  the 


BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS  217 

upper  court  until  fall,  now  several  months  away. 
To  have  his  logs  left  lying  in  the  woods  all  sum- 
mer meant  their  destruction  by  the  worm  unless 
they  were  barked — in  itself  a  costly  proceeding — 
and  the  fire  danger  was  impossible  to  provide 
against.  So  he  called  Flint  into  consultation. 

The  walking  boss  heard  him  through  and 
stood  moodily  at  the  window  of  the  store  as  he 
looked  far  up  the  railroad  track  and  tugged  at 
the  ends  of  his  mustache.  "I  only  know  one 
way  to  fight,"  he  replied  thoughtfully  at  the  end 
of  many  minutes  of  silence,  "and  that  is  to  fight 
to  win.  I  ain't  looking  for  trouble,  but  when 
a  man  comes  at  me  from  behind  I'm  going  to 
whip  him  as  quick  as  I  can,  as  hard  as  I  can 
and  any  way  that  I  can.  I  don't  believe  in  a 
defensive  battle  when  you  are  up  against  a  foul 
fighter.  I  believe  in  getting  your  man." 

Findlay  believed  in  that,  too. 

"And  so  do  I.  If  I  could  manage  to  get  a 
leg  hold  on  friend  Meyer  I'd  jiu-jitsu  him  until 
he  squealed  like  a  cub  bear  in  a  trap.  Now  this 
pond  over  here  is  jammed  with  their  logs,  which 
they  are  holding  by  means  of  the  Archer  dam. 
They  have  got  her  shut  down  as  tight  as  they 


218  BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS 

have  the  upper  dam,  and  everybody  below  is 
hollering  about  it.  They  have  been  monkeying 
with  the  level  of  the  river  for  years  squarely  in 
the  face  of  the  law  and — "  He  whirled  upon  his 
walking  boss  like  a  flash  and,  grasping  him  by 
the  shoulders,  stood  looking  into  his  face  from 
the  distance  of  a  yard.  Sharply  his  voice  rang 
in  the  little  room. 

"The  county  line  runs  down  the  middle  of 
this  river,  and  therefore  this  lower  dam  is  in 
Judge  White's  circuit  as  well  as  in  Blanke's,  and 
I  can  get  a  square  deal  from  Judge  White  any 
day.  All  we  have  got  to  do  is  make  a  showing 
and  he  will  do  what  he  thinks  is  right.  We  can 
make  the  showing  without  any  trouble,  and  as 
the  other  side  won't  be  in  court  the  judge  won't 
know  what  we  are  up  to.  And  he  is  holding 
court  in  Northland  now."  His  watch  seemed 
to  fly  from  his  pocket  into  his  hand  as  he  looked 
at  it  and  calculated  rapidly.  "Eight  o'clock  and 
no  train  over  this  jerk- water  road  until  four  this 
afternoon.  That  will  get  us  in  Northland  too 
late  for  court,  and  nobody  knows  what  Meyer 
may  think  up  before  to-morrow.  We  might 
make  it  by  killing  a  team  of  horses — " 


BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS  219 

"The  switch  engine!"  yelled  Flint,  starting  for 
the  door.  "I  will  get  Charlie  to  back  her  down 
here  while  you  telephone  the  division  superin- 
tendent for  permission  to  run  her  into  North- 
land." 

Out  of  the  door  he  went  on  the  run,  covering 
four  ties  at  a  leap  as  he  bounded  towards  the 
squat  locomotive  that  panted  motionless  half  a 
mile  up  the  track,  while  his  employer  roared  into 
the  telephone.  Thirty  minutes  later  they  were 
watching  the  track  slip  under  them  at  the  rate 
of  thirty  miles  an  hour,  and  by  the  middle  of 
the  forenoon  they  leaped  from  their  seats  to  the 
sawdust  of  Northland. 

Judge  White  listened  to  their  affidavits,  which 
solemnly  averred  that  the  Badger  Company 
was  violating  the  law,  and  skimmed  over  the 
statutes  regulating  the  flow  of  streams.  He 
was  an  honest  man  but  totally  unfamiliar  with 
logging  waters,  having  come  from  the  southern 
portion  of  the  state  to  temporarily  take  the  place 
of  the  regular  judge  because  of  the  latter 's  ill- 
ness. He  listened  attentively  to  Findlay's  law- 
yer, and  then  issued  his  mandate  with  but  a 
foggy  understanding  of  what  lay  behind  the  in- 


220  BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS 

nocent  sounding  petition  of  the  men  before  him. 
The  mandate  commanded  that  the  Badger  Com- 
pany immediately  raise  its  gates  at  Archer  suffi- 
ciently to  permit  the  free  and  natural  flow  of 
the  water  until  the  next  day,  when  Meyer  might 
appear  before  him  with  any  reasons  as  to  why 
the  flow  should  not  continue.  Of  course,  if  he 
found  that  the  turning  loose  of  the  water  was 
working  any  hardship  upon  the  Badger  Com- 
pany, why  he  would  regulate  it  to  the  best  in- 
terests of  all  concerned.  But  he  did  not  see  how 
the  loosing  of  the  stream  could  harm  anyone, 
particularly  in  so  short  a  time ;  and  as  the  Badger 
Company  were  violating  the  law,  he  would 
order  them  to  obey  it  until  he  had  heard 
from  them.  Findlay  and  Flint  he  appointed 
as  special  deputies  to  see  that  the  order 
was  carried  into  effect.  But  he  strove  to 
to  be  impartial,  and  he  strictly  enjoined  them 
that  the  dam  or  gates  were  not  to  be  de- 
stroyed or  injured  in  any  way  until  the  other 
side  had  had  an  opportunity  to  present  its  side 
of  the  case,  and  the  whole  matter  had  been  heard 
and  settled  finally.  So  away  went  the  pair  with 
permission  to  raise  the  gates,  but  commanded 


BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS  221 

to  do  no  violence  to  the  structure,  while  it  also 
came  to  pass  that  a  friend  of  Meyer  happened 
to  be  in  the  court  room  at  the  time  of  issuing  of 
the  order,  and  the  latter  heard  all  about  the  af- 
fair over  the  telephone  within  half  an  hour  after 
the  departure  of  the  two.  Then  with  a  desper- 
ate energy  that  could  not  have  been  surpassed 
by  Flint  himself,  he  and  Cardiff  set  to  work  to 
render  the  efforts  of  his  enemies  futile  until  he 
could  get  before  Judge  White  and  point  out  to 
him  the  desperate  straits  the  raising  of  the  gates 
of  the  lower  dam  would  put  him  in.  It  would 
only  take  a  few  hours  to  get  at  White,  but  none 
knew  better  than  they  what  disaster  a  few  hours 
of  free  running  water  would  work  upon  them. 

Findlay  and  Flint  were  back  in  Archer  within 
three  hours,  and  from  afar  saw  a  swarm  of  Bad- 
ger men  working  like  bees  upon  the  dam  as, 
rifles  in  hand,  they  advanced  full  of  wonderment 
at  the  activity  of  their  rivals  at  a  point  where  they 
had  expected  inertia.  But  hesitating  not  a  step, 
grim  of  face  and  with  jaws  set,  straight  through 
the  hostile  force  they  thrust  themselves  until  they 
stood  at  the  top  of  the  gate  and  there  paused. 
For  driven  to  its  lowest  notch  and  bound  to  the 


222  BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS 

massive  timbers  of  the  bulkhead  by  a  tangle  of 
heavy  log  chains  that  were  spiked  and  bolted 
into  the  solid  wood,  the  gate  was  as  firmly 
locked  to  the  dam  as  is  the  door  of  a  vault  to 
the  vault  itself.  Silently  Findlay  and  Flint 
stood  looking  at  the  labyrinth  of  chains,  until 
Meyer,  edging  his  way  to  their  side,  stood  there 
with  a  deep  scowl. 

"Well,  why  don't  you  open  her  up?"  he  de- 
manded. Findlay  shot  him  a  quick  glance  from 
the  corner  of  his  eye,  but  said  nothing,  and  the 
other  went  on  with  his  bullyings. 

"Of  course,  it  could  be  done  by  chopping  out 
the  gate  or  blowing  it  out,  but  your  cursed 
order  forbids  you  from  destroying  either  the  dam 
or  the  gate — and  we  are  here  to  see  that  you 
don't.  Mind  you,  I  am  not  going  to  fight  your 
court  order  just  now,  and  if  you  can  get  those 
bolts  and  clinched  railroad  spikes  out  without  in- 
jury to  my  dam,  you  go  ahead.  But  if  you  put 
the  tooth  of  a  saw  or  the  edge  of  an  adz  to  those 
timbers  there  is  going  to  be  war,  and  bad  war 
at  that.  You  can't  break  the  chains  and  you 
couldn't  saw  them  in  two  in  a  week,  even  if  you 
had  the  tools — which  you  haven't.  And  by  to- 


BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS  223 

morrow  your  order  won't  be  worth  the  paper  it  is 
written  on."  He  stopped  with  an  ugly  laugh 
and  then  sneered  in  their  faces.  "So  what  are 
you  going  to  do  about  it?" 

The  muzzle  of  the  walking  boss'  gun  sunk 
and  the  click  of  the  hammer  sounded  ominous 
in  the  silence.  "Stand  back  there  and  you'll 
see,"  he  returned  roughly.  Then  before  even 
Findlay  comprehended  he  took  quick  aim  and 
pulled  the  trigger  of  his  heavy  405  Winchester. 
There  was  a  roar  from  the  gun,  a  simultaneous 
exposive  ring  and  the  whining  sound  of  shattered 
metal  hurtling  through  space  as  a  section  of  the 
chain  leaped  like  a  wounded  serpent,  and  un- 
coiling, fell  with  a  dull  rattle  down  the  side  of 
the  gate.  "Chain  number  one  off  and  no  dam- 
age done  the  dam,"  said  Flint  grimly. 

The  silence  that  followed  the  words  of  the 
walking  boss  was  the  silence  of  bewilderment, 
when  for  the  moment  men  know  not  how  to  act, 
and  stand  motionless  until  rage  moves  them. 
"Two,"  cried  Flint  as  another  piece  of  chain  dis- 
solved before  their  eyes  like  a  bursting  bubble. 
Gray  of  face  and  with  lips  twitching,  Cardiff 
bore  down  upon  the  two  with  a  heavy  peavy  in 


224  BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS 

his  hands,  but  Findlay  met  him  half  way,  equally 
threatening  and  far  better  armed. 

"None  of  that,"  he  cried  sternly.  "You  have 
got  your  men  on  the  upper  dam  with  instructions 
to  shoot,  and  as  long  as  the  law  lets  you  keep 
them  there  I  have  got  to  respect  it.  But  it  is 
equally  true  that  we  are  acting  under  authority 
of  the  courts  on  this  dam,  and  will  protect  our- 
selves at  all  hazards.  Shoot  away,  Jim." 

Slowly,  steadily  the  rifle  boomed  and  coil  by 
coil  the  gate's  manacles  fell.  And  drawn  to  the 
spot  by  the  heavy  bombardment  there  came  leap- 
ing the  woodsmen  of  the  different  clans,  the  Bad- 
ger men  who  were  rafting  above  the  dam  and 
the  remnants  of  Findlay's  old  woods  crew,  now 
waiting  around  Archer  for  his  drive  to  start, 
who,  drawing  themselves  into  tight  knots  just 
beyond  the  danger  -zone,  silently  watched  the 
freeing  of  the  gate.  Once  more  Flint  filled  the 
magazine  as  his  cold  gray  eyes  swept  the  crowd, 
then  fired  again.  The  last  shackle  fell  and  the 
walking  boss  let  the  butt  of  his  rifle  drop  to  the 
ground.  "Lend  a  hand  here,  men  of  Camp  5," 
he  cried. 

From  out  of  the  bunch  big  Joe  Lebeau  came 


Gray  of  Face  and  Lips  Twitching — Cardiff  with  a  Heavy  Peavy  in 

His  Hands 


BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS  225 

swaggering  with  Fighting  Foy  and  Welch 
Jimmy  close  at  his  heels.  "We  mek  heem  open 
up  dam  queek,  by  gar.  Is  it  not  so,  my 
frien's?"  grinned  the  Canadian  as  he  threw  his 
two  hundred  pounds  upon  the  hoisting  bar. 
Six  inches  the  gate  arose  beneath  the  heave  of  the 
woodsmen,  and  a  rush  of  black  waters  went 
swirling  down  the  chute.  A  triumphant  yell 
burst  from  the  men  of  Camp  5,  while  back  of 
Cardiff  his  loggers  shifted  uneasily  upon  their 
feet  with  their  eyes  fastened  upon  their  leader. 
"Yo-heave,  yo-heave,"  sang  Flint  as  he  timed 
his  chant  to  the  swing  of  the  men,  and  the  barrier 
arose  in  a  succession  of  rapid  jerks.  Below  the 
chute  a  surging  mill-race  of  yellow-crested  wa- 
ter swirled  down  the  half  dry  course  of  the  river 
and  the  first  low  rumble  of  the  flood  grew  into  a 
deafening  roar.  And  to  their  center  the  pent 
waters  felt  the  suck  and  into  the  bosom  of  the 
pond  deep  eddies  bored  like  augur  holes  as  the 
undertow  tugged  from  shore  to  shore.  Then, 
slowly  at  first,  but  gathering  momentum  with 
each  yard  passed,  the  great  log  fleet  swung  into 
the  current  and  bore  down  upon  the  vortex, 
while  the  faces  of  Meyer  and  Cardiff  grew 


226  BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS 

ghastly  with  fear.  Roaring  like  a  bull,  Cardiff 
sprang  to  the  shore,  and  with  his  men  hard  on 
his  heels,  went  recklessly  leaping  from  log  to 
log  as  with  might  and  main  they  strove  to  herd 
the  stampeding  logs  into  shore  rafts  beyond  the 
draught.  But  the  might  of  the  river  was  upon 
them,  its  great  hand  gripping  them  from  below 
and  dragging  them  onward  with  a  power  that  was 
beyond  the  power  of  man  to  stay.  Leaping, 
up-ending,  grinding  against  the  sides  of  the 
chute,  the  foremost  logs  went  through  in  a  great 
hurdle  for  the  big  river  fifteen  miles  away,  every 
stick  of  them  lost  forever  to  the  ones  who  by 
heart-breaking  toil  had  dragged  them  from  the 
vitals  of  the  forest.  Cardiff,  his  face  wet  with 
the  sweat  of  despair,  raged  like  a  demon  as  he 
sought  to  jam  them  and  stay  their  flight.  Al- 
ready hundreds  of  good  logs  were  lost  to  his 
employer  forever  and  thousands  of  others  were 
pressing  forward  for  the  plunge,  leaping  the 
brink  as  frightened  sheep  leap  a  fence. 

Along  the  dam  four  of  the  Badger  men  came 
struggling  with  the  points  of  their  pike  poles 
sunk  deep  in  the  thick  hide  of  a  forest  giant  as 


BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS  227 

they  shoved  it  before  them  in  a  desperate  at- 
tempt to  wedge  it  crosswise  in  the  throat  of  the 
flume.  Once  fairly  lodged,  the  tremendous  force 
of  the  waters  would  hold  it  as  in  a  vise  and  the 
oncoming  trunks  would  jam  behind  it  into  a 
solid  bulwark.  They  would  pile  upon  it,  be 
pounded  to  the  bottom  beneath  it  and  pack  in 
behind  it  in  a  mighty  jam  practically  unbreak- 
able, and  the  waters  would  again  be  stayed  and 
the  Badger  logs  saved.  And  well  knowing  this, 
from  all  sides  came  the  men  of  Camp  5,  shout- 
ing and  brandishing  their  fists  as  their  primordial 
passions  swelled  fiercely  within  them  and  the 
lust  of  battle  filled  their  breasts.  Cardiff,  adrip 
with  ice  water,  burst  through  the  press  and 
leaped  upon  the  dam. 

"Make  way  there,"  he  bellowed.  "Make  way 
there,  you  cursed  timber  pirates.  Wedge  her, 
boys — jam  her."  Flint's  tall  form  seemed  to 
grow  even  taller,  and  his  eyes  blazed  like  a  cata- 
mount's. 

"No  you  don't,"  he  roared  back.  "One  log 
jammed  in  there  would  block  the  stream  in  ten 
minutes  so  there  wouldn't  be  enough  water  go- 


228  BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS 

ing  through  to  drown  a  skunk.  And  this  court 
order  calls  for  an  unobstructed  flow.  Back  up 
there  before  I  hurt  someone  bad." 

From  the  outskirts  of  the  crowd  a  heavy  pine 
slab  came  whizzing,  and  striking  the  gun  of 
the  walking  boss,  sent  it  flying  from  his  hands. 
In  an  instant  the  man  who  had  thrown  it  went 
down  in  a  whirlwind  of  savage  kicks  and  blows, 
while  the  top  of  the  dam  became  black  with 
struggling  men,  Lebeau  raging  among  them  like 
a  bull  moose.  And  half  mad  with  despair  and 
rage  Meyer  leaped  forward  just  as  Flint  straight- 
ened up  from  recovering  his  weapon.  "You 
started  those  logs  down  and  now  you  go  with 
them,"  he  yelled  with  a  swing  of  his  fist.  And 
Flint,  caught  unawares  and  smitten  heavily, 
staggered  backward  to  the  brink  with  a  wild  up- 
throwing  of  his  arms  and  a  headlong  plunge 
among  the  churning  logs.  Then  from  some- 
where in  the  struggling  crowd — just  where  no 
one  ever  told — a  shot  rang  out  and  Cardiff 
lurched  and  fell  upon  the  dam. 

Cold  with  horror  at  the  double  tragedy  Find- 
lay  sprang  forward.  Risking  his  limbs  at  every 
leap  he  went  down  the  rock-backed  incline  of  the 


BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS  229 

dam  and  raced  with  all  his  might  beside  the  tor- 
rent as  his  eyes  swept  the  waters  for  the  form  of 
the  man  who  had  gone  down  that  seething  mael- 
strom. The  logs  upheaved  as  if  in  mortal  com- 
bat ;  fell  upon  each  other  with  ponderous  blows ; 
ground  the  bark  from  their  sides  against  the 
rocks  of  the  narrow  gut  and  then  fell  apart  in 
the  broader  waters  below  to  wallow  through  the 
waves  of  the  more  placid  reaches  beyond.  Once 
below  the  gut  a  strong  swimmer  if  unhurt  would 
stand  an  excellent  chance  for  life,  but  that  a  man 
could  go  through  that  grinding  mass  unhurt 
seemed  little  less  than  a  miracle.  Yet  as  Find- 
lay  reached  the  bend  and  ran  his  eyes  over  the 
scattered  logs  beyond  his  heart  arose  with  a  leap 
that  nearly  suffocated  him,  for  far  down  the  river 
he  saw  a  tall  form  come  crawling  out  of  the  water 
and  drag  itself  up  the  bank. 

Back  to  the  dam  he  ran  and  scrambled  up  its 
steep  abutment.  The  logs  were  still  pounding 
through  and  the  roar  of  the  waters  had  not 
lessened,  but  the  voices  of  the  men  were  stilled. 
Brought  to  their  senses  by  what  at  first  blush 
had  seemed  a  double  killing  they  had  drawn 
apart,  staring  dumbly  at  each  other  with  guilty 


230  BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS 

eyes,  then  sullenly  laid  down  their  weapons. 
Then  some  went  running  down  the  bank  after 
Flint  while  others  tore  sleeves  from  their  shirts 
and  made  rude  attempts  to  stanch  the  blood 
which  flowed  from  a  tear  in  Cardiff's  scalp.  As 
for  Meyer,  he  was  sitting  upon  a  rock  wrhen 
Findlay  came  up,  white  of  face  and  breathing 
heavily.  Flint  had  gone  down  among  the  logs 
to  death  in  the  melee  which  he  had  instigated,  and 
the  logs  which  he  had  won  by  so  many  long 
months  of  scheming  and  toil  were  lost  to  him  for- 
ever. Black  despair  born  of  a  murderous,  pas- 
sionate act  and  great  money  loss  was  upon  him, 
and  he  buried  his  face  in  his  palms  as  Findlay's 
fingers  closed  upon  his  shoulder  instead  of  strik- 
ing him  down  as  he  thought  his  rival  was  about 
to  do. 

"Meyer,"  said  Findlay  as  a  sob  shook  the 
other's  wiry  frame,  "we  have  bucked  each  other 
pretty  hard  in  snow  and  ice  water  for  the  past 
few  years,  but  seeing  that  Flint  came  out  of 
that  hellrace  alive  I  don't  know  as  I  hate  you 
so  much.  All  I  want  is  to  carry  on  my  busi- 
ness, live  and  let  live,  but  this  thing  bids  fair  to 
be  the  ruin  of  us  both.  You  have  got  me  tied  up 


BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS  231 

and  can  pretty  near  bust  me  before  I  can  get 
loose,  and  your  stuff  is  going  to  glory  forty 
miles  an  hour.  Do  you  want  to  call  this  fight 
off  and  start  all  over  again?" 

Meyer's  face  was  uplifted  and  incredulity  filled 
his  eyes.  "How?"  he  asked  hoarsely. 

"Will  you  have  your  injunction  set  aside  and 
let  me  have  all  the  water  I  need  if  I  lower  this 
gate  and  fail  to  prosecute  you  for  attempted 
murder?" 

Meyer  looked  around.  The  surface  of  the  big 
pond  was  alive  with  logs.  They  were  sailing 
upon  the  gate  in  rafts,  in  squadrons,  in  flotillas, 
in  fleets;  resistless  in  their  advance  and  beyond 
the  power  of  man  to  control  so  long  as  the  giant 
clutch  of  the  river  was  upon  them.  And  beyond 
them  were  other  fleets  that  filled  the  river  for 
miles,  coming  down  thousands  strong,  shoulder- 
ing each  other  roughly  aside  in  their  eagerness 
for  the  plunge.  His  bosom  swelled  and  the 
veins  grew  big  and  black  upon  his  forehead. 
"Yes,  John,"  he  gasped. 

Findlay  arose  and  his  voice  rang  high  above 
the  voice  of  the  waters.  And  at  his  call  a  dozen 
men  leaped  forward  and  the  gate  fell  with  a 


232  BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS 

plunge  that  cut  the  torrent  half  in  two.  The 
weight  of  the  waters  crushed  it  against  the  frame 
and  it  hung  motionless,  but  heavy  mauls  fell 
upon  it  and  foot  by  foot  it  cut  its  way  downward 
until  it  rested  upon  the  bottom.  The  waves  that 
were  already  below  the  dam  rushed  madly  away 
with  no  other  waves  following,  and  the  waters 
above  surged  back  in  long  swells  that  checked  the 
advance  of  the  log  fleets  until  momentum  was 
lost  and  they  swung  listlessly  at  anchor.  Up 
the  bank  came  Elint  with  a  great  rage  in  his 
heart  as  he  headed  for  Meyer,  but  Findlay  met 
him  ten  feet  from  his  man  and  caught  his  arm. 

"It's  all  right,  old  man,"  he  said  soothingly. 
"Come  on  while  I  tell  you  about  it." 

He  linked  his  arm  through  that  of  the  wrath- 
ful walking  boss  and  half  dragged  him  down  the 
road,  quieting  him  with  rough  thumps  upon  the 
chest  as  he  talked  rapidly.  Gradually  the  re- 
bellious balkings  of  Flint  ceased  and  his  first  hot 
words  degenerated  into  a  series  of  sulky  grunts. 
Then  almost  without  resistance  he  allowed  him- 
self to  be  shoved  across  the  threshold  of  the 
boarding  house  bunk  shanty  where  dry  clothing 
hung  upon  the  walls  and  the  heater  roared. 


CHAPTER  XIV 

Two  days  later  Findlay  awakened  Wilson  at 
four  o'clock  in  the  morning. 

"I've  got  my  crew  scattered  all  along  the  river 
and  the  drive  is  about  to  start.  All  we  have  got 
to  do  to  get  white  water  is  send  a  man  up  to  the 
dam  with  instructions  and  Meyer's  man  up  there 
will  open  the  gate.  There  won't  be  anything 
to  do  in  the  way  of  work  here,  and  I  thought 
maybe  you  would  like  to  take  a  run  up  there  and 
stand  around  for  a  few  days  and  watch  how  she 
goes.  But  do  just  as  you  please  about  it.  I 
can  send  someone  else  if  you  don't  care  to  make 
the  trip." 

Wilson  rolled  out  of  bed  and  began  dress- 
ing. "I'll  go,"  he  rejoined.  Then  he  rested 
one  foot  on  the  window  sill  and  began  lacing  his 
boots  as  he  talked  on. 

"Do  you  know,  Mr.  Findlay,  if  it  was  not  for 
the  fact  that  I  earn  more  money  here  at  the  store, 
and  that  it  seems  to  be  a  man's  duty  to  earn  all 

233 


234,  BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS 

he  can  in  this  world,  I'd  rather  be  out  there  in 
the  open  than  cooped  up  here  inside  of  walls! 
Somehow  I  seem  to  hanker  for  the  great  un- 
rotffed  where  there  is  nothing  over  one  all  day 
long  but  his  hat,  and  where  he  is  near  enough  to  the 
trees  to  smell  them.  And  I  even  got  to  like  the 
labor,  hard  as  it  was.  There  is  something  about 
doing  the  kind  of  work  that  makes  your  muscles 
swell  and  keeps  you  hungry  all  the  time  that 
makes  you  feel  big  and  independent  and  like  a 
man.  In  other  words,  I'd  rather  be  cutting 
down  a  tree  than  sharpening  a  lead  pencil.  Both 
are  cutting  wood,  but  one  makes  you  hungry 
and  the  other  only  gets  lead  on  your  fingers. 
And  you  can  think  just  as  well  while  you  are 
doing  one  job  as  the  other."  He  finished  his 
boot  lacing  and  aimed  one  finger  out  of  the  win- 
dow. "You  see  that  big  white  pine  on  top  of 
that  ridge  over  there?  It  is  four  feet  through 
that  stick  at  the  butt  and  it  is  fifty  feet  to  the 
lowest  branch — but  I  climbed  to  the  top  of  it 
one  day.  Now  how  do  you  suppose  I  did  it?" 

"Climbing  spurs?"  ventured  the  listener. 

"No.  I  shinned  up  a  sapling  until  I  got  into 
the  branches  of  that  young  pine  that  stands  close 


BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS  235 

beside  the  big  one.  I  got  clear  to  the  top  of  the 
slender  one  and  then  swayed  it  back  and  forth 
until  I  could  grab  a  branch  that  stuck  out  from 
the  big  fellow.  Then  I  let  go  with  my  feet  but 
hung  on  with  my  hands,  and  for  a  few  seconds 
you  can  imagine  I  was  in  some  suspense  with 
fifty  feet  of  nothing  between  myself  and  the 
ground.  I  threw  one  leg  over  the  limb  and 
swung  up  on  top  of  it  like  I  used  to  get  on  a 
turning  pole  when  I  was  a  boy,  and  then  went 
on  up  until  I  was  above  everything  else  in  sight, 
being  in  the  top  of  the  tallest  tree  on  the  highest 
hill  around  here.  And  as  far  as  the  eye  could 
reach  in  every  direction  there  was  nothing  but  an 
unbroken,  heaving  sea  of  tree  tops;  an  ocean  of 
green  with  but  one  blight  in  it.  And  what  do 
you  suppose  that  blight  was?" 

Findlay  shook  his  head. 

"This  burnt-off,  cut-down,  shanty  and  slab- 
haunted  place  that  we  now  abide  in.  Every- 
thing else  was  clean  woods." 

"If  it  wasn't  for  Archer  you  never  would  have 
been  here  to  climb  to  the  top  of  that  tree,"  grum- 
bled the  owner  of  the  maligned  place.  "Quit 
kicking  at  gift  horses.  They  can  kick  too." 


236  BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS 

"I  understand  perfectly  and  I  agree  with  you. 
But  that  is  not  what  I  was  getting  at — that  part 
of  what  I  was  saying  was  merely  an  involuntary 
prelude.  What  I  was  about  to  remark  is  this. 
I  hung  there  in  the  air  several  seconds  longer 
than  necessary  just  from  the  pure  pleasure  of 
it;  having  a  good  deal  the  same  sensations  I  im- 
agine a  chimpanzee  has  when  he  swings  by  his 
hands.  And  I  had  no  more  fear  of  falling  than 
has  the  ape.  I  don't  seem  to  have  any  such 
things  as  nerves  any  more,  and  I  am  glad  of  it 
for  I  don't  need  'em.  When  I  put  my  depen- 
dence upon  my  muscles  now-a-days  I  know  they 
are  not  going  back  on  me.  When  I  came  here 
it  was  not  that  way  by  a  long  shot,  so  you  can 
see  what  the  woods  have  done  for  me  in  that  re- 
spect. And  I  don't  believe  that  I  have  degen- 
erated mentally  either.  I  have  not  read  much 
fiction  it  is  true,  but  I  have  bent  close  to  the 
ground  and  watched  things  grow  out  of  it,  and 
I  have  looked  up  at  these  gorgeous  northern 
stars  and  been  nearer  to  them  than  I  ever  was 
before.  And  I  have  seen  sunrises  and  sunsets 
that  will  abide  with  me  as  long  as  I  have  mem- 
ory— blood-red  suns  hanging  in  skies  that  flamed 


BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS  237 

like  a  fire.  And  only  last  night  I  saw  the  search 
light  of  the  north  pole  streaming  from  rim  to 
rim  of  the  sky.  As  long  as  I  have  to  work  with 
my  hands  for  a  living  I  am  going  to  do  it  here 
in  the  woods.  It  is  harder  work  and  longer 
hours  and  no  better  pay  than  I  could  get  for 
digging  sewers  in  a  city — but  where  is  the  com- 
parison?" 

"But  it  is  funny  that  you  should  have  to  labor 
with  your  hands  for  a  living,"  echoed  Findlay 
significantly.  "I've  often  thought  of  it  and  so 
has  Barbara;  I  know  that  because  she  has  spoken 
to  me  about  it.  You  have  a  level  head  and  you 
are  an  educated  man.  Why,  you  use  almost  as 
good  grammar  as  me." 

"Nevertheless  I  do  have  to  labor  with  my 
hands,  you  may  be  very  sure.  I  have  absolutely 
no  money  at  my  disposal  except  what  I  earn  from 
you  day  by  day,  no  profession  and  practically  no 
business  experience.  That  is  why  I  want  to  see 
the  drive.  I  want  to  learn  logging  from  A  to 
Izzard,  for  I  have  an  idea  that  I  am  going  to 
stick  to  it.  In  the  first  place  it  is  as  good  a  busi- 
ness as  a  man  can  be  in  whether  he  has  money  or 
no  money,  and  in  the  second  it  is  congenial." 


238  BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS 

"I'm  glad  you  are  interested  in  it  and  I'll  push 
you  along  as  fast  as  I  can.  You've  got  brains 
and  education  and  enthusiasm,  and  that  is  the 
kind  of  a  man  I  want,"  returned  Findlay  as  the 
other  man  finished  with  the  wash  pan.  And 
Wilson  going  to  the  boarding  house  packed  his 
stomach  tightly  with  solids  and  betook  himself 
off  on  his  twelve-mile  tramp  to  the  upper  dam. 

He  arrived  there  at  nine  o'clock  and  proceeded 
at  once  to  the  water's  edge.  As  far  as  the  eye 
could  reach  the  pond  was  alive  with  logs  that 
crowded  it  from  shore  to  shore  and  which  were 
backed  far  up  on  the  low  lands  that  were  over- 
flowed by  the  pent  waters.  And  it  was  with 
these  latter  logs  that  lay  in  the  shoal  water  that 
the  main  body  of  the  upper  driving  crew  were 
most  concerned,  for  while  the  bulk  of  the  stuff 
lying  in  the  free  water  of  the  pond  would  be 
sucked  through  the  chutes  without  causing  more 
trouble  than  guiding  and  fending,  the  remaining 
"jill-pokes"  back  in  the  shoal  waters  where  the 
current  pulled  but  feebly  were  liable  to  become 
stranded-  These,  therefore,  had  either  to  be 
herded  into  the  deep  water  or  left  behind  and 
lost. 


BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS 

The  dam  watcher  of  the  Badger  Company 
sitting  idly  upon  the  structure  surveyed  the  new- 
comer with  curiosity.  Wilson  approached  him. 
"Mr.  Findlay  sent  me  up  to  tell  you  to  hoist 
her,"  he  announced  and  the  woodsman  tapping 
his  pipe  upon  a  beam  slowly  arose  and  threw  his 
weight  upon  the  lever  at  one  side  of  the  gate  as 
he  began  taking  in  the  chain  over  the  ratchet 
wheel.  Wilson  seizing  the  opposite  lever  did 
likewise  and  under  the  foot  of  the  gate  the  black 
water  began  gushing.  And  as  the  Badger  logs 
a  few  days  before  had  moved  majestically  for- 
ward to  their  owner's  acute  financial  loss,  so  now 
did  this  great  fleet  sail  on  to  John  Findlay's  hap- 
piness and  prosperity.  Through  the  chutes  they 
plunged  endlessly  into  the  river  below  and  were 
whirled  down  stream  on  the  torrent,  while  strung 
along  the  shores  the  sweating  crews  worked  like 
beavers  as  they  rolled  in  other  thousands  from 
the  piles  that  fringed  the  low  banks  or  tumbled 
them  headlong  down  the  rollways  of  the  bluffs. 
Above  the  dam  in  the  overflow  of  the  pond,  often 
in  ice  water  up  to  their  waists,  men  forced  the 
obdurate  Jill-pokes  from  the  shoals  into  the 
clutch  of  the  stream,  while  further  out  on  the 


240  BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS 

main  body  of  the  floating  mass  their  spike-shod 
comrades  leaped  from  log  to  log  as  they  nursed 
them  as  vaqueros  nurse  restless  cattle.  The 
light  pieces  that  showed  a  tendency  to  wander 
they  drove  into  the  main  mass  with  their  steel 
gaffed  poles ;  logs  that  balked  and  would  go  side- 
ways they  straightened  head-on  for  the  plunge 
through  the  foam  and  rocks.  Often  sinking  to 
their  knees  in  their  flights  across  the  shifting 
mass  as  their  weight  fell  upon  a  stick  too  light 
to  support  them;  occasionally  losing  their  poise 
and  going  into  their  necks  in  waters  as  cold  as 
the  snows  that  had  given  them  birth;  recklessly 
they  leaped  on,  soaked  to  the  skin  but  with  their 
blood  rushing  hotly.  All  day  they  labored 
ceaselessly  save  for  an  occasional  dash  to  the 
shore  for  a  cup  of  steaming  coffee  and  a  min- 
ute's bask  in  the  heat  of  the  cook's  fire,  and  when 
night  came  and  the  gate  fell  with  a  splash  they 
stumbled  back  to  camp  drenched  and  leg  weary, 
but  beyond  all  things  famishing  for  the  last,  the 
biggest  and  the  hottest  meal  of  the  day.  And 
having  eaten  ravenously  as  they  sat  or  stood  in 
steaming  groups  before  the  fires,  they  smoked 


BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS  241 

a  pipe  or  two,  then  rolled  blankets  about  their 
still  sodden  garments  and  lay  down  for  a  sleep 
that  was  akin  to  the  slumber  of  death. 

During  the  next  three  days  Wilson  followed 
the  drive  down  the  river.  Lending  a  hand  here 
and  there  and  watching  everything,  he  saw  prod- 
igies of  endurance  that  surpassed  anything  that 
had  come  under  his  notice  in  the  snow-bound 
camps.  He  saw  men  riding  logs  that  leaped 
like  live  things  when  to  lose  balance  meant  a 
plunge  into  the  rapids  amongst  death-edged 
rocks;  riding  them  erect  and  fearlessly  as  bare- 
back performers  ride  horses  over  hurdles.  He 
saw  them  after  working  for  hours  in  ice  water  up 
to  their  middles  crawl  numbly  forth  to  seek  a 
fire,  only  to  leap  frog-like  into  the  flood  again 
before  the  ragings  of  a  drive  boss.  He  saw  them 
threading  jams  and  working  doggedly  beneath 
towering  masses  while  they  located  the  key  log, 
dislodged  it  and  dropping  cant-hooks  and  peavies 
go  leaping  like  mountain  goats  for  the  shore  with 
death  thundering  at  their  heels.  And  where 
cant-hook  and  peavy  would  not  suffice  he  saw 
them  risking  mutilation  and  death  at  the  fickle 


242  BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS 

end  of  a  dynamite  fuse,  and  he  saw  them  die  in 
the  foam-flecked  jaws  of  Great  Bear  Rapids — 
two  of  them. 

At  the  end  of  the  third  day  he  left  the  river 
and  cutting  across  country  over  ridge  and 
through  swamp  made  his  way  wet  and  exhausted 
to  the  store.  From  the  top  of  his  stool  he  once 
more  figured  and  wrote  until  the  last  log  had 
been  driven  and  the  paid-off  men  had  dispersed 
to  home  or  dance  hall  as  their  instincts  led  them 
strongest.  For  the  two  times  in  the  year  when 
the  lumber  jack's  pocket  should  be  lined  with 
money  are  at  the  close  of  the  cutting  season  in 
the  woods  and  at  the  end  of  the  drive  in  the 
spring.  That  same  afternoon  Findlay  came  into 
the  little  office  with  a  contented  smile  and  a  rasp- 
ing together  of  his  rough  hands.  He  slapped 
his  clerk  solidly  upon  the  shoulder. 

"Everything  is  all  right  now,  boy.  With  my 
fleet  anchored  where  nothing  can  harm  it  my 
work  and  worry  for  the  season  is  over.  All  I 
have  got  to  do  for  a  few  months  now  is  to  keep 
my  eyes  on  the  mill  and  the  general  run  of  things. 
Say,  but  it  feels  good  to  be  a  gentleman  of  leisure 
once  more  and  not  have  to  get  up  until  seven 


BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS  243 

o'clock  in  the  morning  and  be  able  to  quit  at 
eight  at  night.  Nothing  like  it,  hey?" 

"You  have  certainly  earned  a  rest." 

"That's  the  way  to  talk.  There  is  only  one 
thing  that  is  worrying  me  just  this  minute  and 
I'm  going  to  tell  you  what  it  is.  You  see  Bar- 
bara and  I  had  fixed  it  up  to  invite  you  to  the 
house  for  supper  and  a  couple  of  hours'  visit  with 
us  this  evening,  and  I  am  afraid  you  won't  come." 

"But  I  am  going  to  come." 

"Good.  To  tell  the  truth  I've  had  Barbara 
kill  that  fabulous  calf,  so  you  had  better  be  on 
hand  at  six-thirty,  prepared  to  do  a  little  fabu- 
lous eating."  Away  went  the  gentleman  of 
leisure  on  a  dog  trot,  headed  up  the  road  for  a 
spot  a  mile  or  two  distant  in  order  to  inspect 
some  sleds  that  he  had  stacked  up  and  left  be- 
side the  old  ice  road,  while  the  invited  guest 
finished  his  afternoon's  work  and  began  a  simple 
toilet  for  the  evening.  Barbara!  And  he  was 
to  sit  at  her  table  and  eat  again  of  her  cooking. 
Verily  the  gods  were  exceeding  kind  to  him. 

And  never  was  there  a  meal  more  wonderful. 
Soup — not  intangible  broth  but  real  soup,  rich 
as  cream,  bodyful,  soulful,  satisfying.  Radishes 


244,  BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS 

red  as  strawberries  and  pregnant  with  tingling 
juices.  A  roast  of  veal,  stuffed,  garnished  and 
spiced  until  one's  eyes  could  scarcely  leave  it. 
Tiny  onion  bulbs  that  melted  in  the  mouth  and 
sharpened  the  teeth  of  hunger.  Baked  potatoes 
that  crumbled  and  fell  apart  like  dry  flour, 
gravy  inexpressible.  Fritters  light  as  feathers 
with  pure  maple  syrup  from  Findlay's  own 
"back  yard."  Pudding  that  huge  slices  of  left 
one  as  hungry  for  it  as  before  the  first  mouthful, 
and  tea  fit  for  the  Mikado.  And  while  Findlay 
and  Wilson  were  raving  over  each  new  dish 
tasted,  Barbara,  who  had  cooked  everything, 
sitting  at  the  end  of  the  table  with  her  sleeves 
tucked  above  her  round  white  wrists  criticized 
unsparingly.  She  could  do  much  better  as  a 
general  thing.  She  had  burned  the  soup  in  look- 
ing after  the  roast.  She  had  forgotten  to  turn 
the  roast  in  looking  after  the  potatoes.  She  had 
taken  out  the  potatoes  too  soon  in  her  anxiety 
over  the  gravy.  The  fritters  had  tired  her  to 
carry  to  the  table,  so  heavy  were  they.  The 
pudding  was  unsatisfactory  and  the  tea  weak. 
The  radishes,  onions  and  syrup  she  admitted  were 
fairly  good.  And  she  would  have  matters  set- 


BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS  245 

tied  no  other  way  than  hers  despite  the  honors 
they  would  have  heaped  upon  her. 

They  arose  with  effort  and  when  they  had 
sought  the  living  room  sat  down  heavily.  From 
the  kitchen  there  came  for  a  while  the  furious 
clatter  of  dishes  as  they  smoked  with  the  con- 
tented sloth  of  the  overfed ;  then  Barbara  entered 
and  the  tri-sided  conversation  angled  many  ways. 
Presently  it  was  discovered  that  Wilson  had 
friends  who  knew  people  whom  she  had  met. 
Wonderful !  In  the  rapid  crossfire  of  query  and 
comment  which  followed  this  miracle  John  Find- 
lay's  tongue  ran  down  and  he  sat  silently,  the 
middle  one  of  the  trio,  yet  a  rank  outsider.  Still 
on  and  on  their  tongues  flew  and  would  have 
stopped  when  and  where  there  is  no  telling  had 
not  the  snap  of  the  silent  one's  watch  case 
brought  them  to  earth  again  and  to  the  guilty 
realization  that  they  had  not  spoken  to  him  for 
an  hour.  But  could  they  have  read  his  thoughts 
their  consciences  would  have  slept  again,  for  in- 
ternally Findlay  was  one  great  silent  chuckle. 

He  arose,  Wilson  with  him.  "You  remember 
I  have  got  to  leave  on  the  ten  o'clock  southbound 
and  it  is  nine-thirty  already,"  was  his  announce- 


246  BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS 

ment.  "However,  I  will  be  back  in  a  few  days 
this  time,  and  after  that  I  will  be  hanging  around 
here  for  so  long  that  you  will  lose  your  appetites 
at  the  mere  sight  of  me."  At  the  door  he  took 
Barbara's  cheeks  between  his  palms  and  pursing 
her  lips  into  a  cherry  circle  kissed  them,  while 
Wilson,  now  rankest  of  outsiders,  looked  on  en- 
viously. When  it  came  his  turn  to  bid  her  good 
evening  she  dropped  her  lids  as  their  hands  and 
eyes  met  simultaneously,  curtsied  to  him  in 
quaint  old  New  England  fashion  as  he  paid  his 
final  compliment  to  the  meal  and  told  him  that 
she  really  hoped  he  would  come  again.  After 
that  the  men  walked  away  while  she  still  stood  in 
the  doorway  with  the  light  streaming  about  her, 
and  although  of  course  neither  knew  it,  the 
thoughts  of  one  man  were  the  thoughts  of  the 
other.  Half  way  down  the  hill  they  heard  the 
door  close  behind  them,  immediately  followed 
by  a  few  notes  from  a  song  of  the  olden  time, 
full  and  sweet  as  the  notes  of  a  mocking  bird, 
succeeded  a  moment  later  by  an  absurdly  squeak- 
ing whistle.  Then  Findlay  voiced  his  reflec- 
tions. 

"Mr.  Wilson,  that  girl  back  there  will  make 


BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS  247 

the  one  who  gets  her  the  richest  man  in  Amer- 
ica." 

"Amen,"  was  the  fervent  echo. 

Findlay  walked  in  silence  for  a  dozen  paces  and 
then  threw  the  stub  of  his  cigar  into  the  darkness 
from  which  it  glared  at  them  like  an  evil  eye. 
"Now  I  am  going  to  tell  you  something.  She 
is  afraid  of  that  man  Cardiff." 

"Any  particular  reason  for  fearing  him?" 

"Not  that  I  know  of,  yet  I  believe  he  is  the 
only  man  in  the  world  she  does  fear.  And  I 
don't  know  as  I  blame  her  after  seeing  the  look 
that  was  on  his  face  the  other  day  at  the  dam. 
There  was  murder  blazing  there  as  plain  as  if  it 
had  been  printed  in  letters  an  inch  high.  Just 
why  she  is  afraid  of  him  I  don't  know,  unless  it 
is  instinct,  for  she  has  never  spoken  a  word  about 
it.  But  I  know  it  is  a  fact  just  the  same  as  I 
know  she  would  trust  you  anywhere,  for  she  is 
her  mother's  image  and  I  knew  her  mother  as 
I  know  myself.  I  just  want  to  remind  you  that 
your  guardianship  is  still  in  full  force  and  effect 
during  my  absence,  and  I  want  you  to  keep  an 
extra  close  watch  on  her  for  the  next  few  days. 
When  I  return  again  I'll  relieve  you  of  any 


248  BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS 

further  responsibility  along  that  line.  Jumping 
Jehosophat!  Here  comes  that  blamed  dog  ken- 
nel on  rollers  ten  minutes  ahead  of  time.  First 
time  thai  ever  happened  since  they  cut  up  the 
ark  to  build  it  out  of.  Just  swing  this  lantern  a 
couple  of  times  and  I'll  hop  on  her  as  she  trun- 
dles past." 

A  toot  came  from  the  advancing  engine  and  its 
speed  sharply  diminished.  Findlay  swung  him- 
self aboard  the  slowly-moving  caboose  and  dis- 
appeared within  it,  leaving  the  other  looking  first 
at  the  rear  lights  of  the  vanishing  car  and  then 
at  the  twinkling  lights  upon  the  hill.  For  the 
first  time  in  many  months  he  had  laughed  aloud. 
For  the  first  time  in  many  months  he  had  talked 
freely  out  of  the  very  joy  of  talking.  For  the 
first  time  in  many  months  he  had  felt  happiness. 
But  he  well  knew  the  latter  feeling  would  not 
last.  In  the  fullness  of  time  remorse  might  die, 
but  regret  must  live  with  him  forever.  Until  he 
could  take  a  living,  throbbing  heart  and  placing 
it  within  the  bosom  of  Gray  ford  say,  "Arise, 
and  walk,"  happiness  could  not  long  abide  with 
him. 


CHAPTER  XV 

THERE  came  an  evening  of  almost  summer's 
warmth  twenty-four  hours  after  Findlay's  depar- 
ture, and  Wilson  took  advantage  of  it  by  prop- 
ping his  chair  against  the  door  casing  in  the  outer 
air.  Upon  one  of  his  knees  rested  the  massive 
head  of  old  Caesar,  the  watchdog  of  the  premises. 
He  was  an  immense  brute  of  surly  but  not  evil 
mind,  and  he  respected  the  commands  of  but 
three  human  beings,  John  Findlay,  Barbara  and 
the  new  friend  who  now  petted  him.  Wilson  un- 
derstood dogs  and  liked  them,  and  rarely  had 
difficulty  in  quickly  making  friends  with  even 
the  most  vicious,  but  it  had  taken  him  a  solid 
week  of  courting  before  he  could  gain  the  great 
mastiff-hound's  confidence.  Once  done,  how- 
ever, Caesar's  friendship  quickly  became  mild 
adoration,  and  now  not  even  the  voice  of  his 
owner  could  coax  him  from  Wilson's  side. 
They  had  often  strolled  together,  the  man  and 
the  brute  with  the  red  shot  eyes,  and  upon  certain 

249 


250  BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS 

bitter  nights  after  the  wood  fire  had  burned  out 
and  the  cold  within  the  store  had  become  acute, 
they  had  slept  snugly  together  arm  over  back  and 
paw  over  shoulder  to  their  mutual  warmth  and 
companionship.  Only  those  who  have  lived 
alone  in  places  where  the  stillness  is  seldom 
broken  save  by  the  hoot  of  an  owl  or  the  yelp  of 
a  wolf  can  more  than  faintly  understand  the 
almost  blood  kinship  of  human  kind  to  the  de- 
scendants of  that  brute  who  untold  thousands  of 
years  ago  came  crawling  out  of  the  primeval 
wilderness  to  lick  the  foot  of  a  skin-clad  savage 
and  dumbly  say  "my  master." 

The  day  had  been  warm  and  still,  ominously 
so.  A  haze  was  flung  across  the  sky  and  an  op- 
pression lurked  in  the  air  that  Wilson  had  been 
continuously  cognizant  of,  yet  had  thought  little 
about  as  he  worked  on.  Ever  since  morning  the 
horses  had  been  stamping  restlessly  and  several 
times  he  had  gone  to  the  stable  to  quiet  them, 
each  time  finding  them  white-eyed  and  nervous. 
The  sun  had  gone  down  an  hour  before  glowing 
like  a  polished  copper  disk,  with  dark  clouds 
mounting  high  in  the  west  and  the  leaves  of  the 
trees  seeming  to  shiver  and  curl  like  sensate 


BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS  251 

things  though  no  breath  of  air  fanned  them.  At 
last  Wilson  decided  that  an  electrical  storm  which 
would  probably  bring  a  high  wind  and  a  heavy 
downfall  of  rain  hovered  behind  the  horizon,  and 
had  fortified  the  woodbox  with  a  double  armful 
of  dry  pine  slabs  before  seating  himself  by  the 
door  to  pass  the  hours  that  separated  him  from 
bed.  Partly  because  of  his  promise  to  his  em- 
ployer, but  more  because  his  own  thoughts  ran 
straight  that  way,  he  kept  his  eyes  for  the  most 
of  the  time  upon  the  Findlay  cottage.  He  had 
not  seen  Barbara  since  her  father  left. 

The  outlines  of  the  house  were  lost  in  the  dusk 
but  the  window  lights  shone  brightly.  Instead 
of  growing  chill  with  the  oncoming  of  darkness 
the  balminess  of  the  air  seemed  to  increase,  and 
the  eyes  of  the  watcher  half  closed  as  his  chin 
sank  drowsily.  Then  of  a  sudden  his  head  flew 
up  and  Wilson,  leaning  forward  in  his  chair, 
tightly  gripping  the  wooden  arms,  stared  ahead 
of  him  intently.  For  the  door  of  the  cottage 
had  been  suddenly  thrown  open  letting  out  a 
flood  of  light  against  which  had  been  revealed 
a  towering  form  whose  great  shoulders  nearly 
filled  the  opening  from  jamb  to  jamb.  For  an 


252  BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS 

instant  it  had  stood  there  plainly  visible,  then 
vanished  behind  the  panel,  whether  entering  with 
or  without  the  bidding  of  the  one  within  the 
watcher  had  been  unable  to  determine.  A  sec- 
ond more  and  Wilson  had  crossed  the  tracks  and 
was  hurrying  up  the  hill. 

Cautiously  he  approached  the  cottage  and 
stopped  within  earshot  to  listen.  The  shame  of 
eavesdropping  goaded  him  to  retreat  but  his 
solemn  promise  to  John  Findlay  held  him  still. 
At  least  there  could  be  no  harm  in  remain- 
ing long  enough  to  find  out  if  Cardiff  was  a 
welcome  visitor,  for  if  such  were  the  case  no 
promise  could  make  him  listen  longer.  For  the 
first  half  minute  he  heard  nothing;  then  ^oices 
arose  that  grew  louder  and  more  intense ;  the  ex- 
clamations of  a  woman  and  the  bass  notes  of  a 
full-chested  man.  Deeper  boomed  the  tones  of 
the  woodsman  and  higher  arose  the  voice  of  the 
girl  until  there  was  no  mistaking  their  import. 
Barbara  was  frightened  and  expostulating;  Car- 
diff angry  and  threatening.  Wilson  stepped  to 
the  door  and  rapped  sharply. 

There  was  instant  silence  within,  then  the 
sound  of  quickly  falling  feet  and  Barbara  pale 


BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS  253 

as  the  dead  but  luminous-eyed  threw  open  the 
door.  Cardiff  was  standing  in  the  center  of  the 
room  with  his  naturally  florid  face  aflame  from 
anger  and  alcohol,  and  at  his  first  sight  of  the 
newcomer  his  great  hands  knotted  into  maul-like 
fists  and  the  malice  of  a  devil  seemed  to  glow  in 
his  eyes.  But  the  girl  was  between  him  and  the 
intruder  and  slowly  his  fingers  relaxed. 

The  girl's  gasp  of  relief  as  her  glance  rested 
upon  Wilson  was  quickly  followed  by  a  wild 
rush  of  words.  "Oh,  I  am  so  glad  you  called. 
Come  right  in.  Of  course  you  remember  Mr. 
Cardiff.  He  happened  to  be  passing  and 
stopped  to  inquire  if  I  was  well.  Take  this 
chair.  I  insist.  Shall  I  get  you  a  chair  also, 
Mr.  Cardiff — or  must  you  go  so  soon?"  Her 
whiteness,  the  almost  incoherent  rapidity  of  her 
speech  and  the  palsied  hands  of  this  girl  whose 
sang  froid  in  hours  of  danger  had  made  Wilson 
marvel,  caused  him  to  glare  balefully  at  the  one 
who  stood  beyond  her,  and  although  he  made  not 
the  slightest  hostile  movement  every  muscle  was 
as  taut  as  a  coiled  spring.  Cardiff  turned  to 
her. 

"Yes,  I  must  go  for  time  is  almost  priceless  to 


254  BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS 

me  to-night,"  he  said  with  a  show  of  deference,, 
"It  is  not  probable  that  I  will  see  you  again, 
Miss  Findlay.  If  my  words  to  you  to-night  have 
seemed  parables,  doubtless  Mr.  Wilson  can  in- 
terpret them."  The  sneering  malignancy  of  the 
last  sentence  caused  Wilson  to  start  forward,  but 
the  other  man  without  a  glance  at  him  picked  up 
his  hat  from  a  chair  and  strode  out  of  the  door. 
Quick  as  a  cat  Barbara  had  closed  it  behind  him 
and  now  stood  with  her  back  against  it  as  though 
barring  it  against  all  entrance.  Wilson  placed 
himself  fairly  before  her. 

"I  wish  you  would  tell  me  about  it.  You 
know  I  only  ask  this  in  the  hope  that  I  may  be  of 
some  assistance,"  he  said  quietly.  Her  face  was 
still  colorless  and  her  hands  shaking.  Plainly 
Barbara  had  undergone  an  ordeal. 

She  did  not  answer  him  and  he  took  her  by 
the  sleeve  and  led  her  to  a  chair,  making  her  sit 
in  it  and  placing  himself  a  yard  away.  "Tell 
me,"  he  went  on  with  calm  insistence.  "Your 
father  commended  you  to  my  care  in  his  absence 
and  I  think  I  should  know  about  this  affair  to- 
night that  I  may  know  how  to  act  in  the  future. 
Are  you  going  to  tell  me?"  She  had  grown 


BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS  255 

quieter  now  and  her  color  was  returning  and  she 
even  smiled  faintly. 

"Yes,  I  will  tell." 

"Very  well.  I  am  listening  but  J,  do  not 
hear." 

"I  am  about  to  begin.  I  don't  like  Mr.  Car- 
diff." 

"I  am  content.     Go  ahead,  please." 

"And  I  never  did  and  I  never  will." 

"I  am  still  not  displeased." 

"And  I  have  always  been  afraid  of  him,  too. 
I  don't  know  why,  because  he  has  always  been 
courteous  to  me  before  to-night,  but  I  presume 
it  was  because  he  is  so  big  and  tremendously 
strong.  And  then,  too,  when  I  would  say  little 
things  that  he  did  not  like,  such  an  ugly  look 
would  come  into  his  eyes.  I  always  felt  so  tiny 
and  helpless  down  there  at  his  feet — like  a  mouse 
feels  before  a  mastiff,  I  guess.  All  he  would 
have  to  do  would  be  to  make  one  little  snap  and 
then  where  would  I  be!" 

"Has  he  annoyed  you  much?" 

"No,  because  I  always  tried  to  avoid  him. 
But  he  used  to  meet  me  in  such  out-of-the-way 
places;  gathering  ferns  in  the  woods;  strolling 


256  BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS 

along  the  tote  roads;  taking  little  sun  baths  in 
the  opens — even  on  railroad  velocipedes.  The 
next  day  after  we  met  him  up  the  track  he  sent 
me  a  note  asking  if  he  might  call.  I  told  him 
that  I  thought  it  would  be  useless  as  I  never  at- 
tended to  any  of  daddy's  business  and  I  was  sure 
he  would  only  waste  his  time.  But  to-night  he 
came,  seeming  to  be  half  intoxicated  and  excited 
— anyway  acting  queerly — and  what  on  earth  do 
you  suppose  he  wanted  me  to  do?" 

"Marry  him,  of  course." 

"Yes,  but  in  such  a  queer  way.  He  said  he 
had  a  horse  outside  and  he  wanted  me  to  go 
with  him  that  very  instant.  Think  of  it!  Of 
course  I  only  laughed  and  said  I  did  not  want 
to  be  carried  away  like  a  cat  in  a  bag.  Then  he 
grew  angry  and  said  he  would  take  me  anyway. 
That  gave  me  quite  a  fright,  but  I  pretended  to 
become  angry  also  and  told  him  I  would  die 
first.  Then  he  scared  me  almost  out  of  my  wits. 
He  said  I  would  die  if  I  didn't  go  with  him.  I 
could  feel  my  knees  getting  weak,  and  I  was 
many  times  more  frightened  of  him  than  I  was 
of  the  wolves  that  night.  But  I  tried  to  look 
formidable  and  asked  him  if  he  was  coward 


BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS  257 

enough  to  attack  a  woman.  He  swore  he  would 
not  harm  a  hair  of  my  head  for  all  the  money 
and  kings  and  queens  and  jacks  and  other  rub- 
bish in  the  world,  and  swore  it  so  earnestly  that 
I  really  believed  him.  Then  he  went  rambling 
on  with  some  wild  talk  about  having  come  to  save 
me  from  some  great,  mysterious  danger  that  he 
alone  knew  of,  and  if  I  would  go  with  him  and 
marry  him  he  would  die  for  me.  I  thought  he 
was  trying  to  frighten  me  again,  and  told  him  I 
did  not  like  dead  things  around  the  house,  and  I 
would  rather  he  died  for  someone  else,  anyway. 
Then  he  became  awfully  threatening  once  more 
and  just  then  you  came.  What  brought  you?" 

"I  saw  him  against  the  light  when  the  door 
opened." 

Barbara  grew  very  perpendicular  in  her  chair, 
the  shadow  of  displeasure  darkening  her  eyes. 
"So  you  were  watching  to  see  if  I  had  callers? 
I  had  no  idea  that  my  neighbors  were  so  inter- 
ested in  me,"  she  returned  with  much  haughti- 
ness. Then  her  manner  changed  abruptly.  "I 
won't  have  people  watching  me.  I  can  take  care 
of  myself." 

"Undoubtedly.     I  am  very  sorry  that  I  came." 


258  BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS 

He  started  to  arise  but  her  hand  was  upon  his 
sleeve  in  a  twinkling. 

"You  know  I  did  not  mean  what  I  said.  I 
am  always  saying  something  that  I  don't  mean — 
and  somehow  you  manage  to  misunderstand 
everything  anyway.  What  I  meant  was—  "  she 
paused  and  averted  her  face.  It  was  seldom  that 
Barbara  became  confounded  in  her  speech  but 
now  her  tongue  stumbled  awkwardly.  Wilson 
hastened  to  her  rescue. 

"What  you  meant  was  you  do  not  mind  the  act 
of  being  watched,  but  you  resent  the  implica- 
tion." 

"Yes,  we  will  let  it  rest  that  way." 

"And  to  clear  myself  of  the  suspicion  of  hav- 
ing meddled — I  suppose  you  know  that  your 
father  appointed  me  your  guardian  when  he  is 
away."  The  girl  leaned  quickly  forward,  her 
face  very  much  in  earnest. 

"No,  I  did  not  know  it,  and  I  don't  care  if  he 
did.  I  am  of  age  and  I  don't  need  a  guardian. 
And  if  I  ever  do  need  one  I'll  pick  him  to  suit 
myself  whether  daddy  likes  him  or  not.  I  ab- 
solutely refuse  to  recognize  your  authority. 
You  are  discharged.  There  is  no  need  of  your 


BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS  259 

being  cross  about  it,  but  I  mean  every  word  I 
say." 

Wilson  got  upon  his  feet  and  walked  to  the 
door.  "Then  I  will  bid  you  good  night.  I  only 
came  here  in  my  official  capacity,  and  that  hav- 
ing terminated  my  stay  should  certainly  termin- 
ate with  it.  Just  a  word  more.  I  don't  believe 
any  danger  threatens  you;  I  cannot  conceive 
that  any  can.  Cardiff  was  merely  drunk  and 
bluffing.  But  perhaps  it  would  be  well  to  lock 
up  tight  and  put  that  gun  by  your  bed.  If  you 
see  or  hear  anything  that  alarms  you,  fire  it  and 
I  will  be  here  within  two  minutes,  unofficially 
but  at  your  service  just  the  same.  Will  you 
promise  me  that  much  before  you  tell  me  'good 
night'?" 

She  crossed  the  room  and  stood  close  before 
him.  "Please  don't  get  angry,"  she  pleaded. 
"Let  us  always  be  friends.  When  I  say  little 
things  on  the  spur  of  the  moment — forget  them 
— for  I  value  your  friendship  and  solicitude  more 
than  I  can  tell  you.  And  don't  think  that  I 
have  forgotten  how  much  I  owe  you,  even  though 
I  object  to  your  guardianship.  I  will  do  as  you 
say  about  the  gun.  Good  night." 


260  BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS 

He  bowed  and  left  her,  truthfully  vowing  that 
her  little  outcroppings  of  impulsiveness  troubled 
him  not  at  all.  She  closed  the  door  as  he  reached 
the  foot  of  the  steps  and  the  click  of  the  key  in 
the  lock  told  him  that  she  had  remembered  that 
admonition  and  lost  no  time  in  following  it.  As 
lie  reached  the  base  of  the  hill  the  form  of  a  man 
loomed  out  of  the  darkness  before  him  and  the 
voice  of  Cardiff  came  to  his  ears  in  an  angry 
growl. 

"Now  you—  —I've  got  you  and  I'm  going  to 
crack  every  bone  in  your  carcass  for  an  eaves- 
dropping, meddling  cur."  In  the  crack  of  a 
whip  Wilson  had  sidestepped  the  oncomer  wide 
and  was  sending  him  his  stern  warning. 

"Cardiff,  keep  away  from  me.  I  have  no 
quarrel  with  you  and  I  only  wish  to  go  my  way 
unmolested.  But  bear  this  in  mind.  I  am  not 
going  to  run." 

"You'll  have  nothing  but  broken  legs  to  run 
on,"  gritted  the  other  with  a  rush  and  the  uplift- 
ing of  a  bludgeon  filled  fist.  But  the  blow  was 
wasted  by  the  back  spring  of  the  one  assailed, 
and  Cardiff  in  the  midst  of  repeating  the  rush 
paused  abruptly  with  the  club  poised  in  mid  air. 


BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS  261 

For  a  huge,  red-eyed  brute  leaping  from  out  of 
the  darkness  crouched  before  him  with  white 
fangs  bared  and  throat  filled  with  mutter  ings. 
It  was  Caesar,  the  cross-bred  mastiff-hound,  who 
sniffing  along  the  trail  of  his  absent  master  had 
seen  the  blow  and  with  neck  bristling  with  rage 
had  leaped  to  the  defense  of  his  comrade  and 
keeper.  The  slightest  aggressive  movement  on 
the  part  of  the  one  so  suddenly  brought  to  bay 
and  the  long  teeth  would  be  tearing  his  flesh,  and 
none  knew  it  better  than  did  Cardiff.  Motion- 
less he  stood  with  club  in  air. 

"Down,  dog,"  yelled  Wilson  as  he  gripped  his 
champion  by  the  iron-spiked  collar.  "Down,  I 
say."  The  mutterings  grew  lower  and  the  brute 
sullenly  sank  upon  his  belly,  but  his  red  eyes  still 
glowed  fiendishly  at  the  man  before  him.  Wil- 
son straddling  the  dog  gripped  him  firmly  and 
addressed  his  enemy  once  more. 

"You  had  better  leave  as  quietly  and  as 
quickly  as  you  know  how.  As  I  told  you  a  mo- 
ment ago  I  do  not  want  to  quarrel  with  you,  but 
in  addition  I  will  tell  you  this.  Despite  your 
size  I  care  for  you  not  at  all.  The  bigger  a  man 
is  the  easier  he  is  to  hit,  and  the  heavier  he  is 


262  BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS 

the  harder  he  will  fall.  Furthermore,  while  I 
have  to  be  responsible  for  my  own  acts,  I  cannot 
be  bound  by  what  this  dog  may  do  to  you  if  I 
am  compelled  to  loosen  him."  And  Cardiff, 
judge  enough  of  men  to  know  that  this  one  be- 
fore him  was  not  an  enemy  to  be  despised  even 
by  one  as  mighty  as  himself,  and  knowing  further 
that  to  face  the  rage  of  Caesar  in  action  would  be 
to  face  a  raging  fiend  whose  jaws  could  crack 
the  bones  of  an  ox,  backed  slowly  away  until  the 
curtain  of  night  was  well  drawn  between  him  and 
the  formidable  pair.  But  from  the  distance  his 
voice  returned  to  them. 

"I  would  have  saved  the  woman  but  she  would 
not  have  it  so  and  now  you  do  it  if  you  can. 
And  I  would  have  broken  your  neck  for  eaves- 
dropping and  interfering  had  it  not  been  for 
your  damned  hound — but  even  that  is  unneces- 
sary. You  may  be  smiling  at  me  now,  but  you 
will  think  hard  of  what  I  have  said  before  you 
see  another  night.  Lumberman,  bah!  You 
don't,  know  the  letter  'A'  of  the  woods  alphabet 
or  you  would  understand  what  I  am  trying  to 
tell  you  now.  You  may  have  her,  but  you  won't 
keep  her  long.  Good-by,  and  to  hell  with  you." 


BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS  263 

The  dull  thud  of  a  horse's  hoofs  followed  his 
words,  then  silence. 

Wondering  if  more  than  mere  braggadocio 
lay  back  of  the  great  woodsman's  warning  and 
curse,  Wilson  sought  his  bed  with  the  resolve 
to  sleep  with  one  eye  on  the  star-like  night  light 
of  the  cottage  and  with  both  ears  set  to  catch 
the  warning  report  of  the  gun.  Commanding 
Caesar  to  "watch  sharp"  he  went  to  bed  divested 
only  of  his  hat,  coat  and  boots. 


CHAPTER  XVI 

THE  scream  of  a  horse  in  the  stable  and  the 
deep,  bell-like  boom  of  Caesar's  voice  brought 
Wilson  from  his  light  slumber  and  onto  his  feet 
in  a  twinkling.  His  first  coherent  thought  as 
he  leaped  from  his  bed  was  that  he  was  cough- 
ing, the  second  that  the  room  was  flooded  with 
a  light  that  was  neither  the  white  light  of  the 
moon  nor  the  ruddy  light  of  day,  but  rather  a 
scarlet  glare  that  lay  upon  floor  and  wall  and 
reddened  them  until  they  looked  as  though  they 
had  been  bathed  with  arterial  blood.  He  rushed 
to  the  window  and  gazed  out.  To  north,  to 
east,  to  west — more  than  half  the  horizon- 
arose  a  solid  wall  of  flames  that  leaped  heaven- 
ward like  the  waves  of  a  frantic  sea,  while  above 
it  rolled  and  twisted  fantastic  volumes  of  yel- 
low smoke,  fearful  in  their  contortions  as  they 
writhed  upward  until  they  were  lost  in  the  vast 
ink  black  canopy  that  overhung  the  clearing. 
Sucked  from  out  of  the  fire  vortex  and  hurled 

264 


BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS  265 

aloft  by  the  upward  rush  of  red  hot  air,  myriads 
of  fragments  of  burning  bark  and  foliage  shot 
across  the  tumbling  smoke  volumes;  then  sail- 
ing onward  with  the  wind  fell  far  ahead  of  the 
main  body  of  the  fire  to  start  other  blazes  that 
raced  like  red  serpents  through  the  brush.  And 
these  serpents  having  found  another  forest  giant 
licked  its  feet  for  an  instant  with  their  forked 
tongues,  then  wound  themselves  about  it  and 
climbed  to  the  lower  foliage,  leaped  upon  it  with 
a  hiss,  devoured  it,  roared  upward  through  the 
branches  until  the  pine  became  a  swaying  sky- 
scraping  torch  from  which  was  sown  again  more 
living  seeds  of  fire  to  soar  and  race  and  breed 
until  the  vast  forest  should  become  but  a  char- 
coal waste,  or  the  one  enemy  that  could  con- 
quer it  came  to  beat  out  its  life  to  the  thunders 
of  the  cloudburst.  On  three  sides  of  Archer — 
all  save  the  south — the  seething  arc  was  drawn 
closely,  and  the  fate  of  the  hamlet  was  settled 
beyond  all  mortal  intervention.  As  yet  the  fire 
was  miles  away,  but  it  was  closing  in  with  the 
speed  of  a  galloping  horse. 

For  half  a  dozen  seconds  Wilson  stood  star- 
ing at  onrushing  death,  rooted  to  the  floor  by 


266  BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS 

very  awe.  From  out  of  the  boarding  house  he 
saw  men  come  rushing  into  the  blood-red  glare 
and  go  running  frantically  to  the  south,  clothed 
only  as  they  had  slept,  yelling  at  each  other  with 
the  hoarse  voices  of  men  who  battle  on  the  verge 
of  eternity.  In  the  stable  the  horses  were  fight- 
ing with  hideous  screams.  Csesar's  voice  tolled 
incessantly,  and  down  the  railroad  track  a  wild- 
eyed  buck  came  leaping  over  the  ties,  all  fear 
of  man  forgotten  in  his  terror  of  a  still  more 
cruel  enemy.  Through  the  window  a  rush  of 
air  hot  as  the  pant  of  an  exhausted  brute,  fanned 
the  face  of  the  watcher,  and  in  a  moment  when 
other  sounds  happened  for  the  instant  to  cease 
he  heard  a  dull  roar  like  the  far  off  breaking 
of  surf.  Six  precious  seconds  he  had  wasted  in 
awe-stricken  inactivity,  but  now  he  leaped  into 
action. 

Fortunate  indeed  it  had  been  for  him  that 
pondering  over  Cardiff's  warning  and  rendered 
uneasy  by  the  mystery  of  it,  he  had  laid  himself 
down  to  sleep  nearly  fully  dressed.  Cap  and 
coat  he  threw  on  in  a  twinkling,  his  boots 
in  two  seconds  more,  and  not  stopping  to  lace 
them  he  ran  for  the  stable  with  his  plan  for 


BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS  267 

escape  taking  shape  as  he  went.  He  would  re- 
lease the  horses,  all  but  one,  mount  the  last  and 
best  and  ride  to  the  assistance  of  the  girl  had 
she  not  already  taken  the  alarm  and  fled.  There 
would  be  no  time  to  saddle  the  plunging  beasts 
in  the  stable  and  she  could  not  ride  bareback 
unassisted  in  the  wild  race  that  lay  before  them, 
but  he  could  stick  on  without  saddle  or  bridle 
and  hold  her  from  falling  as  well.  And  with 
a  good  horse  beneath  them  the  chances  were 
about  even  that  they  might  burst  through  the 
gap  before  the  fire  circle  was  made  complete; 
if  not — well,  it  was  their  only  hope. 

He  threw  open  the  stable  door  and  sprang 
among  the  frantic  brutes  within.  It  was  dan- 
gerous work,  this  putting  himself  among  the 
fear-crazed  animals  of  the  stalls  and  he  well  knew 
that  he  risked  his  life  in  doing  it,  but  upon  their 
fleetness  lay  the  safety  of  himself  and  the  one 
person  in  the  world  whom  he  now  knew  he  loved. 
Iron  hoofs  beat  the  floor  on  all  sides  of  him; 
heavy  bodies  jammed  him  against  the  stalls  and 
white  teeth  snatched  at  him  and  tore  his  clothes, 
but  one  by  one  he  slashed  their  fastenings  with 
his  knife  and  sent  them  galloping  without. 


268  BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS 

The  last  one  he  seized  by  the  halter  strap,  and 
starting  him  for  the  door  ran  by  his  side  wait- 
ing only  to  pass  the  low  entrance  to  make  the 
leap  upon  his  back  which  would  be  followed  by 
the  dash  up  the  hill.  The  horse  upon  whom  he 
had  placed  his  trust  for  the  life  race  was  a  power- 
ful gray,  well  broken  to  the  saddle,  intelligent 
and  obedient,  and  Wilson  believed  that  he  could 
handle  him  with  the  halter  alone.  In  any  event 
he  must  attempt  it,  for  he  might  as  well  have 
tried  to  bridle  the  fire  itself  as  the  half -crazed, 
plunging  beast  in  the  narrow  stall. 

To  plan  as  well  as  mortal  can  and  then  at 
the  very  threshold  of  success  find  that  he  had 
blundered,  and  because  of  that  unforeseeable 
blunder  must  stand  helpless  and  sweating  in  the 
jaws  of  death  has  been  the  fate  of  many  a  man. 
And  such  was  the  fate  of  Wilson  as  he  battled 
with  his  chosen  beast  at  the  threshold  of  the 
stable.  For  whereas  the  other  brutes  had 
thundered  out  with  wild  snorts  at  being  released, 
the  gray  one,  the  docile,  the  obedient,  braced 
himself  at  the  log  sill  and  with  eyes  rolling  and 
squeals  of  terror  balked  in  shivering  obstinacy, 
as  insensible  to  word  or  blow  as  a  horse  of  iron. 


BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS  269 

Desperately  Wilson  fought  him  with  tongue  and 
toe,  but  the  fire  fear  had  paralyzed  the  brute's 
brain  and  he  but  screamed  and  shuddered  be- 
neath the  cutting  whip  slashes.  For  a  minute 
which  he  would  not  have  sold  for  all  the  golden 
treasures  of  the  earth  the  man  battled  with  the 
beast,  then  giving  up  the  attempt  he  threw 
aside  the  useless  strap  and  went  racing  up  the 
path  that  led  to  the  cottage.  As  he  crossed 
the  railroad  tracks  he  heard  the  roar  of  a  gun 
and  a  moment  later  Barbara,  hair  streaming  and 
clothed  only  in  skirts,  waist  and  shoes,  came 
darting  down  towards  him.  Her  face  was  very 
white  but  her  dark  eyes,  filled  though  they  were 
with  keen  realization  of  her  desperate  peril,  were 
unterrified.  The  fear  that  had  shaken  her  the 
evening  before  at  the  mere  presence  of  Cardiff 
was  now  in  the  presence  of  the  fire  nowhere 
visible. 

He  grasped  her  arm  and  side  by  side  they 
ran.  They  did  not  speak,  she  because  she  knew 
that  her  life  depended  not  upon  her  tongue  but 
upon  her  limbs;  he  because  his  brain  was  in  a 
chaos  of  wild  plans  that  might  bring  them 
safety.  The  girl  ran  easily,  lightly,  her  lips 


270  BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS 

compressed  and  her  crooked  elbows  held  close  to 
her  sides,  while  he,  his  stride  somewhat  shortened 
to  meet  hers,  fell  into  the  gait  that  had  won  him 
many  a  cross-country  run.  Caesar  came  gallop- 
ing behind. 

They  turned  upon  the  track  where  the 
polished  surfaces  of  the  steel  rails  shimmering 
in  the  sky  glare  ran  into  the  distance  until  they 
thinned  and  thinned  and  finally  vanished  as  two 
slowly  converging  silver  threads.  And  it  was 
down  this  silvery  way  alone  that  safety  lay — 
hard  running  at  best  across  ties  where  one  must 
leap  with  precision  or  almost  inevitably  turn  an 
ankle  upon  itself  like  a  hinge.  And  now  they 
had  scarcely  gone  fifty  yards  when  luck  played 
them  false,  for  there  was  a  stumble  and  together 
they  went  down.  Wilson,  holding  the  girl  back 
as  best  he  could,  threw  out  his  free  arm  and  saved 
himself,  but  Barbara  struck  the  rail  with  a  force 
that  made  her  cry  out  with  the  pain  of  it.  In- 
stantly he  had  picked  her  up,  and  forgetful  of 
the  danger  behind  was  holding  her  tightly  as 
he  begged  her  to  say  that  she  was  not  badly 
hurt.  Save  for  the  one  involuntary  cry  she  was 
mute,  but  with  lips  tightly  pressed  and  mouth 


BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS  271 

twisted  with  pain  she  pushed  him  from  her  and 
pointed  to  an  object  that  stood  close  beside  the 
track.  It  was  the  man's  turn  to  cry  out  now 
and  he  did,  a  shout  of  joy,  for  not  a  dozen  feet 
away  stood  the  fleet-wheeled  'pede. 

He  fell  upon  the  machine  tigerishly,  lifting 
one  end  free  and  hauling  it  after  him  until  he 
dropped  it  upon  the  ties,  and  then  with  the  girl 
striving  courageously  to  assist  him  he  placed  it 
upon  the  rails  and  swung  her  bodily  to  her  seat. 
For  a  few  rods  he  ran  pushing  behind  it  as  he 
gave  it  the  initial  momentum,  then  leaped  to 
the  seat  and  seized  the  handles.  The  girl  was 
already  pumping  with  all  her  strength. 

And  as  on  that  Sunday  when  exulting  in  the 
rush  of  the  wind  she  had  cried  "faster,  faster," 
and  he  had  put  forth  his  strength  until  the  cog 
wheels  buzzed,  so  now  with  teeth  set  and  eyes 
glued  upon  the  silver  lined  pathway  he  swung 
back  and  forth  until  the  car  seemed  to  leap  clear 
of  the  rails  at  every  pull.  Again  his  muscle- 
plaited  legs  and  arms  were  like  smooth-work- 
ing pistons;  his  body  the  cylinder  that  drove 
them  forward  and  hauled  them  back  to  the  whir 
of  the  driving  gear  beneath.  Caesar  leaping  be- 


272  BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS 

hind  with  lolling  tongue  flattened  himself  in  his 
flight  until  his  deep  chest  brushed  the  ties  as  he 
strained  every  muscle  to  keep  close  to  the  ones 
he  worshiped.  Past  them  on  each  side  the 
forest  sped  in  a  blurred  mesh  of  crimson-flecked 
undergrowth  and  interlaced  limbs,  while  the  ties 
of  the  roadbed  beneath  them  became  blended 
into  a  solid  floor.  They  were  holding  their  own 
with  the  blaze  as  yet,  but  it  was  gaining  power 
with  every  mile  covered  while  their  limbs  were 
growing  weaker  with  every  shove.  To  outrun 
the  fiend  behind  seemed  impossible,  but  to 
slacken  their  efforts  was  destruction  to  a  cer- 
tainty. Desperately  they  labored  on. 

They  rounded  a  sharp  curve  and  hope  well- 
nigh  left  them.  Borne  by  the  high  wind  miles 
ahead  of  the  roaring  furnace  the  flying  outriders 
of  the  fire  had  descended  ahead  of  the  fugitives 
and  for  half  a  mile  on  each  side  of  the  track  the 
forest  was  ablaze.  Still,  run  the  flame  gauntlet 
they  must,  or  shrinking  from  the  lesser  demon 
in  front  be  withered  by  the  greater  one  which 
raced  behind.  Pungent  volumes  of  smoke  that 
stung  eyes  and  throat  and  half  stifled  the  breath 
filled  the  space  between  the  fire  lines,  but  they 


BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS  273 

plunged  into  it  with  a  sprint  of  speed  among 
stinging  sparks  that  fell  upon  them  in  a  red  hail. 
Through  the  smoke  on  either  side  they  saw  as 
through  black  screens  of  gauze  great  trees,  flame- 
swept  from  roots  to  tips,  that  roared  and  shot 
blazing  embers  at  them  as  they  passed.  Fierce 
gusts  of  heat  whirled  about  them,  each  breath 
of  which  seemed  to  scorch  and  shrivel  their  lungs. 
Eyebrows  and  eyelashes  disappeared  as  though 
rubbed  off  with  an  acid,  and  with  hair  singed  and 
garments  smoking  they  emerged  blistered  and 
half  strangled  from  the  gauntlet  into  the  clear 
air  again  with  all  the  fire  behind  them. 

But  it  was  a  well-nigh  barren  victory  at  best 
and  both  man  and  woman  knew  it  well.  Once 
out  of  the  scorch  and  strangle  where  pain  had 
goaded  them  on,  their  forced  speed  degenerated 
to  a  point  where  Cassar,  singed  from  nose  to  tail 
and  limping  along  on  three  scorched  feet,  kept 
pace  with  them  without  effort.  Though  for  the 
time  being  they  were  well  abreast  of  the  foremost 
fire  wall,  yet  overhead  the  swiftly  flying  spark 
fleets  sailed  in  countless  myriads.  It  would  be 
but  a  few  miles  at  best  before  they  would  have 
to  run  another  gauntlet  like  the  last,  and  with 


274  BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS 

their  diminishing  strength  and  powers  of  resist- 
ance each  knew  the  feat  would  be  impossible. 
And  even  though  they  should  by  some  miracle 
of  luck  reach  the  village  that  was  ahead,  no 
safety  could  be  found  there,  for  even  then  its 
inhabitants  were  fleeing  for  their  lives  as  they 
themselves  now  fled.  Half  stupefied  by  exhaus- 
tion and  smoke  inhaled,  moved  by  the  same  de- 
spairing thoughts,  they  eased  their  efforts  until 
the  clatter  of  the  machine  dwindled  to  a  meas- 
ured clack.  Then  Wilson  whose  dimmed  eyes 
were  searching  the  wayside  uttered  a  raven-like 
croak.  Close  beside  the  track  and  with  a  good 
half  mile  of  space  from  shore  to  shore,  impassable 
save  by  leaping,  to  all  the  fires  of  earth,  lay  one 
of  the  countless  lakes  that  dot  the  pineries. 

Flashing  before  his  eyes  came  the  scene  as 
John  Findlay  had  painted  it,  when  more  than  a 
generation  before  lie  and  the  mother  of  the  girl 
now  beside  him,  fleeing  as  they  now  did,  had 
found  safety  in  the  waters  of  a  lake.  One  sharp 
pull  upon  the  brake  lever  and  the  machine  was 
motionless  with  the  man  standing  upon  the  track 
beside  it.  Barbara,  with  the  lake  in  view,  needed 
no  words  of  explanation.  From  childhood  she 


BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS  275 

had  been  familiar  with  the  story  of  her  parents' 
race  for  life,  and  the  final  scene  in  the  lake  had 
been  a  never-exhausted  source  of  amusement  and 
raillery  for  her.  So  often  and  so  vividly  had  she 
heard  the  story  told  that  it  seemed  to  be  a  part 
of  her  own  existence,  and  that  she  was  now  but 
reenacting  a  dimly  remembered  scene  of  some 
previous  life  wherein  each  step  before  her  was  a 
familiar  one.  Firmly  grasping  the  hand  that 
her  companion  offered  her — he  could  not  have 
lifted  her  now — she  followed  him  through  the 
brush  and  over  the  fallen  trees  until  they  reached 
the  shore  opposite  the  side  which  the  charging 
enemy  would  soon  claim  as  its  own.  Then  bath- 
ing their  hands  and  faces  in  the  cool  waters  they 
sat  down  to  quietly  await  the  inevitable. 

In  the  reflected  cloud  glow  the  still  bosom  of 
the  lake  shone  like  an  inverted  sky,  deep  down  in 
whose  depths  swam  myriads  of  glowing  coals. 
Swarms  of  cinders  fell  upon  the  surface  with  the 
hiss  of  rain  drops  upon  a  hot  surface,  and  here 
and  there  pieces  of  blazing  bark  sputtered  and 
smoked  as  they  drifted  slowly  on.  Caesar  came 
whimpering  up  to  them  and  held  forth  one  burnt 
paw  as  he  appealed  to  the  man  to  touch  it  and 


276  BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS 

make  it  well  as  he  had  often  done  when  a  thorn 
offended,  but  this  time  the  healer  only  shook  his 
head  helplessly.  But  the  girl's  eyes  softened  at 
the  sight  of  his  sufferings,  and  forgetful  of  her 
own  hands  which  had  been  badly  stung  by  the 
hornet-like  swarms  of  sparks,  she  put  her  arms 
around  the  singed  neck  and  laying  her  cheek 
upon  his  head  whispered  something  to  him  that 
the  man  did  not  hear.  And  whether  the  keen- 
sensed  brute  understood  from  her  voice  that  they 
were  helpless  to  aid  him,  or  whether  the  magic 
of  her  touch  eased  the  pain  and  brought  him  com- 
fort, or  whether  it  was  coincidence  pure  and  sim- 
ple none  can  say ;  but  be  it  as  it  may  he  lay  down 
at  her  feet  and  whimpered  no  more. 

Faster  and  faster  fell  the  stinging  downpour 
until  the  fending  off  of  the  burning  particles  be- 
came an  almost  incessant  source  of  activity. 
Above  the  top  of  the  black  forest  that  framed 
the  opposite  side  of  the  lake  they  could  now  see 
the  ragged  fire  crest  leaping,  and  across  the  water 
bellying  balloons  of  smoke  dragged  that  were 
half  in  air  and  half  resting  upon  the  surface. 
Far  above  their  heads  were  rushing  winds,  but 
upon  the  lake's  bosom  the  air  was  motionless. 


BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS  277 

Then  as  they  watched  and  waited  a  red  serpent 
came  writhing  through  the  low  growth  of  the  far 
bank  until  it  reached  the  water's  edge  where  it 
flattened  itself,  coiled,  spread  like  an  adder  and 
pausing  for  a  moment  to  flick  the  rough  skin  of 
a  pine  with  its  tongue  ran  nimbly  up  the  trunk 
and  along  the  boughs  to  the  foliage  which  at  its 
touch  burst  into  a  roar.  Then  on  either  side 
other  fire  serpents  came  crawling,  and  in  five 
minutes  more  the  shore  line  was  a  seething  mass 
whose  fiercely-beating  heat  and  belching  volumes 
of  sparks  and  smoke  caused  the  man  to  hide  his 
face  in  his  arms  and  the  woman  to  shield  herself 
behind  an  outer  skirt.  The  crisis  had  arrived, 
but  the  worst  of  the  crisis  was  yet  to  come. 

"To  the  water,"  gasped  Wilson  and  she  arose 
upon  the  instant  and  putting  her  hand  once  more 
in  his  waded  by  his  side  into  the  last  refuge  be- 
tween them  and  eternity.  The  waters  were  cold 
and  they  caught  their  breath  from  the  sudden 
chill  of  them  as  they  waded  out  until  half  sub- 
merged. "Now  sit  down,"  he  commanded,  and 
she  obeyed;  gasping  sharply  as  the  arms  of  the 
lake  closed  about  her  shoulders.  At  once  he 
seated  himself  beside  her  and  with  the  water  up 


278  BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS 

to  their  necks  they  waited  the  beginning  of  the 
end ;  having  done  all  that  man  and  woman  could 
do  and  regretless  of  mistake  in  judgment  or  op- 
portunity wasted.  Their  wetted  handkerchiefs 
they  bound  about  their  mouths  and  noses  that 
the  cloths  might  mitigate  the  heat  and  clarify  the 
air  which  they  must  breath  when  the  smoke 
clouds  came,  and  their  hair  they  saturated  to  pro- 
tect their  heads  from  the  raining  cinders.  With 
sticks  they  pushed  away  the  floating  fire  masses 
when  they  came  too  close,  and  when  the  deluge  of 
cinders  matted  in  their  hair  and  became  unbear- 
able Wilson  remedied  that  trouble  by  removing 
his  saturated  coat  and  spreading  it  over  their 
heads  until  only  their  faces  were  exposed.  This 
of  course  brought  them  close  side  by  side  and  he 
released  her  hand  for  a  better  and  more  support- 
ing clasp  about  the  waist.  Around  them  in  slow 
circles  Caesar  was  paddling,  thrusting  his  head 
beneath  the  surface  from  time  to  time  when  the 
hot  embers  lighted  upon  it. 

The  conflagration  reached  its  zenith.  Fifty 
feet  above  the  tops  of  the  great  pines  the  red 
tongues  of  the  flames  licked  the  skies,  then  sever- 
ing themselves  from  the  mass  below  leaped  still 


BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS  279 

higher  and  vanished  like  flaunting  crimson  ban- 
ners whipped  out  of  sight  behind  tumbling  copper 
masses.  The  lake  shone  like  burnished  brass. 
Fiercer  the  heat  grew  and  volumes  of  pitch 
smoke  rolling  heavily  over  the  lake  drove  the 
huddled  pair  to  draw  the  sodden  garment  com- 
pletely over  them,  leaving  them  in  a  shallow,  mist- 
filled  tent  with  the  waters  circling  their  throats. 
Through  the  chill  of  the  lake  upon  their  bodies 
and  the  heat  upon  their  heads  and  the  difficulty 
of  breathing  their  sufferings  were  acute,  yet  they 
could  endure  it  for  a  while  longer  should  it  get 
no  worse,  and  it  could  get  no  worse  save  one  last 
thing  happened.  But  happen  that  last  thing  did. 
The  fire  leaped  the  lake  bodily  and  catching 
among  the  trees  that  fringed  their  side  of  the 
waters  not  a  dozen  yards  from  where  they 
crouched  went  shooting  upward  and  began  to 
focus  its  heat  upon  them  from  point  blank  range. 
In  ten  minutes  more  there  would  be  a  roaring 
inferno  so  close  at  hand  that  no  flesh  and  blood 
could  endure  its  blast,  and  when  that  moment 
came  their  lives  must  go  out,  either  withered  by 
flame  or  strangled  by  the  waters  that  so  coldly 
embraced  them.  One  privilege  only  remained  to 


280  BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS 

them.  They  could  choose  the  element  in  which 
to  die. 

For  an  instant  the  man  lifted  a  flap  of  the 
coat  and  showed  her  what  lay  before  them  that 
she  might  understand  and  choose  when  the 
unendurable  moment  came.  She  understood, 
nodded  and  he  let  the  soaked  flap  fall.  And 
then  with  no  hope  of  life  remaining  his  great  love 
and  pity  for  her  overmastered  him  and  he  threw 
his  arms  around  her  and  drew  her  against  his 
breast,  kissing  her  wet  forehead,  her  wet  lips  and 
cheeks  as  he  told  her  that  he  loved  her  better 
than  life  itself,  and  that  to  go  to  eternity  with 
her  tightly  clasped  was  to  rob  death  of  half  its 
hideousness.  And  hearing  his  words  faintly 
above  the  roar  of  the  fire  she  surrendered  her- 
self to  him,  and  throwing  one  arm  about  his 
neck  as  if  to  hold  him  placed  her  cheek  against 
his  and  sobbed  brokenly. 

It  was  a  night  of  years.  As  in  that  fearful 
holocaust  many  lives  were  lost  that  would  have 
been  saved  but  for  the  sheer  accursedness  of 
fate;  so  upon  the  other  hand  others  were  saved 
that  by  the  laws  of  chance  should  have  been  for- 
feited. Flint  the  indomitable,  hero  of  a  score 


BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS  281 

of  hair's  breadth  escapes,  together  with  Lebeau 
and  half  a  dozen  companions  fought  the  fire 
skillfully  and  long,  then  when  safety  was  almost 
within  their  grasp  died  through  an  unforeseeable 
freak  of  the  fire  element.  The  man  and  woman 
in  the  lake  were  among  the  blest.  Above  them  a 
flying  bolt  suddenly  rent  the  murk  like  a  flimsy 
fabric  rent  by  strong  hands  and  the  mighty  lungs 
of  the  heavens  drowned  the  voice  of  the  fire  as 
the  roar  of  a  lion  drowns  the  hiss  of  a  serpent. 
Bellowing  in  his  wrath  at  the  wantonness  of  the 
fire  slave  run  mad  below,  the  great  storm  king 
came,  and  from  out  of  the  rent  in  the  clouds 
poured  a  deluge  that  swept  the  leaping  flames 
from  the  face  of  the  earth;  beating  the  writhing 
serpents  into  motionless,  blackened  shapes; 
spearing  the  sparks  in  mid  flight  and  cooling  the 
seared  bosom  of  the  earth  like  a  soothing  balm. 
Within  thirty  minutes  the  red  woods  had  become 
black,  with  water  streaming  through  the  channels 
the  fire  had  made,  and  where  there  had  been  bil- 
lows of  live  smoke  were  now  but  dead  smudges. 
Roasting  heat  had  given  way  to  steam  and  hu- 
midity, and  only  here  and  there  in  some  hollow 
tree  or  beneath  protecting  log  or  brush  heap 


282  BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS 

could  be  found  the  remains  of  the  great  fire  army, 
and  these  scattered  survivors,  now  beaten  to 
masses  of  flickering  coals,  were  impotent  save  for 
feeble  darts  and  venomous  hissings. 

From  out  of  the  lake  crawled  a  man,  a  woman 
and  a  dog,  all  scorched,  soaked  and  shaken  with 
the  chill  of  the  water;  a  trio  that  searched  out  a 
still  glowing  stump  and  gathered  about  it  in  a 
bedraggled  circle  as  they  sought  the  heat  from 
which  the  moment  before  they  had  cringed  in 
suffering.  The  torrents  from  above  were  warm 
and  gave  them  little  discomfort,  but  had  the  rain 
which  had  saved  them  now  turned  about  and 
drowned  them  they  would  have  died  blessing  it 
so  great  was  their  thankfulness.  Through  the 
rest  of  the  night  and  far  into  the  next  day  the 
downpour  continued,  then  the  woods  being  suf- 
ficiently cool  to  be  traversed  the  three  sought  the 
railway  and  stumbled  stiffly  over  the  charred  ties 
and  twisted  rails  as  they  bent  their  steps  towards 
the  southern  edge  of  the  hideous  blackened 
woods.  Five  miles  down  the  track  they  met  the 
first  of  the  living;  a  scouting  hand-car  closely 
followed  by  a  construction  train  that  bore  new 
ties  and  rails  for  the  repair  of  the  road.  The 


BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS  28S 

fugitives  were  nearly  exhausted — Barbara  could 
only  walk  with  the  aid  of  Wilson,  who  himself 
had  little  strength  to  lend — and  they  were  at 
once  joyfully  placed  upon  the  hand-car  and 
whisked  to  Phrenix,  the  village  nearest  to  the 
southern  rim  of  the  fire  area. 


CHAPTER  XVII 

SEVERAL  days  later  John  Findlay  and  Wilson 
dismounted  from  the  reconstruction  train  at  the 
site  of  what  had  been  the  hamlet  of  Archer. 
The  clearing  was  but  a  desolate  waste  now, 
heaps  of  ashes  and  charred  logs  marking  the 
spots  where  once  had  stood  store,  boarding  house, 
stable  and  mill.  Where  there  had  been  but  so 
few  days  before  a  magnificent  woodland  now  re- 
mained but  a  grotesque,  blackened  junr,'o  out 
of  which  arose  countless  barren  poles  which  had 
once  been  towering  green-capped  trees  but 
which  no  longer  bore  resemblance  to  anything 
but  the  charred  masts  of  an  endless  fleet  of  hulks. 
Of  the  cottage  on  the  hill  scarcely  a  vestige  re- 
mained. 

Together  the  sober-faced  pair  inspected  the 
tangled  wreckage  of  the  mill  machinery  and  then 
sat  down  upon  a  heap  of  scrap  iron  that  had 
cost  Findlay  thousands  of  dollars.  And  the 

284, 


BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS  285 

logger,  relighting  his  cigar  for  the  tenth  time 
since  leaving  the  train,  spoke  for  the  first. 

"Well,  boy,  I'm  busted,  cleaned  out,  wiped  off 
the  map  slick  and  clean.  Kind  of  tough  at  my 
age,  ain't  it;  just  when  I  had  got  things  started 
my  way  after  thirty  years  of  bucking  snow  and 
ice.  Damn  the  luck  anyway.  If  it  wasn't  for 
the  girl,  I'd  wish  the  fire  had  got  me  along  with 
Flint,  Lebeau  and  the  rest  of  the  boys.  Makes 
a  man  weak  and  discouraged  and  sick  all  over 
to  see  his  best  friends  and  the  results  of  a  life- 
time of  labor  all  go  up  in  one  bonfire.  Some- 
times I  feel  as  if  I  wanted  to  sit  down  and  cry. 
I'm  done  for,  all  right,  this  time." 

"How  about  the  insurance?"  ventured  the 
listener,  hoping  to  bring  forth  something  upon 
which  he  could  base  a  few  words  of  cheer.  Find- 
lay  shook  his  head. 

"We  fellows  don't  go  in  much  for  insurance, 
and  we  could  not  get  much  of  it  if  we  did.  The 
companies  don't  want  the  risk  and  charge  us 
accordingly.  Had  a  little  here  and  there — just 
about  enough  to  pay  up  what  I  owe.  But  the 
worst  of  it  is  I  haven't  got  a  stick  of  live  stuff 
standing.  It  cleaned  out  all  my  holdings  that 


286  BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS 

were  to  be  my  bread  and  butter  in  the  years  to 
come,  and  leaves  me  with  a  lot  of  burnt-over  land 
that  won't  be  worth  the  taxes  during  my  life- 
time. You  can  see  now  why  I  was  so  hot  to  get 
my  cut  stuff  out  of  the  woods  this  spring.  If 
it  had  laid  over  I'd  have  lost  that  too,  and  that 
would  have  put  me  'way  in  the  hole.  But  thank 
the  Lord  the  way  it  turned  out  I  don't  have  to 
start  in  owing  anything.  You  see  I'd  just 
about  got  everything  paid  for,  and  with  my 
camps  built  and  paraphernalia  and  timber  hold- 
ings all  clear,  I  could  have  cleared  up  a  com- 
fortable little  fortune  in  the  next  five  years  and 
retired  to  town  to  give  Barbara  the  right  kind  of 
a  send-off  in  the  world.  But  now  I'm  smashed 
so  flat  you  could  shove  me  under  a  door  without 
scraping  anything." 

"You  don't  mean  to  say  you  are  penniless,  Mr. 
Findlay,"  was  the  anxious  rejoinder.  The  one 
addressed  lighted  his  cigar  again. 

"Yep,  pretty  near.  The  way  I  figure  things 
out  is  this.  My  insurance  will  pay  my  little 
personal  bills.  My  logs  will  pay  the  rest  of  what 
I  owed  on  my  holdings.  My  camp  up  on  Lone 
Creek  through  some  funny  work  on  the  part  of 


BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS  287 

the  wind  got  skipped  in  the  general  bonfire  and 
I've  got  six  good  horses  up  there — all  that  I  have 
left  out  of  over  sixty.  I  can  sell  four  of  those 
and  they  ought  to  bring  me  eight  hundred. 
Two  I  will  keep  and  next  winter  I  can  hire  out 
with  them  in  the  woods  for  the  Badger  Company, 
the  same  as  I  did  about  the  time  you  were  first 
beginning  to  sit  up  and  notice  things.  Old 
Meyer  will  hire  me  just  to  have  the  satisfaction 
of  bossing  me  around,  and  I  can  earn  enough  for 
a  few  years  yet  to  keep  the  girl  comfortable. 
By  the  time  I  get  too  old  for  the  woods  she 
will  probably  hitch  up  with  some  young  fellow 
and  then  I'll  make  them  adopt  me.  So  you  see 
I'm  all  right  after  all.  But  I  am  kind  of  wor- 
ried about  you.  What  are  you  going  to  do — 
you're  so  darned  young  and  inexperienced?" 

"I  hadn't  given  it  a  thought.  Go  to  work  for 
the  Badger  Company  too,  I  suppose.  What 
else  can  I  do?" 

Findlay  wheeled  suddenly  about  and  slapped 
his  companion  heartily  upon  the  back.  "By 
gosh!"  said  he  as  he  puffed  vainly  at  his  un- 
lighted  cigar.  "Gimme  a  match.  That  reminds 
me  that  I  owe  you  for  your  winter's  work. 


288  BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS          v 

Everybody  else  drew  on  me  in  full  and  I  thought 
my  men  were  all  paid  up.  Well,  I'm  mighty 
glad  I  owe  you  enough  to  help  you  out,  for  I  can 
realize  on  those  horses."  Wilson's  face  flushed. 

"Mr.  Findlay,"  he  returned  warmly.  "If  you 
ever  offer  me  that  money  again  I'll  jam  it  down 
your  throat." 

"Then  I'll  mail  it  to  you,"  grinned  the  other. 
But  the  look  upon  his  companion's  face  caused 
the  grin  to  die  young. 

"No,  you  won't,  unless  you  wish  to  make  bad 
feelings.  You  may  think  you  owe  me  a  couple 
of  hundred,  but  as  a  matter  of  fact  I  owe  you 
more  than  money  can  ever  repay.  You  have 
absolutely  no  idea  what  you  did  for  me  that  day 
when  you  hired  me,  a  city  greenhorn  who  could 
not  earn  his  keep,  in  preference  to  any  one  of  a 
town  full  of  able  woodsmen.  And  you  only  did 
it  because  I  told  you  a  hard  luck  story.  And 
furthermore,  you  have  treated  me  all  the  way 
through  as  a  man  and  an  equal;  invited  me  to 
your  home;  honored  me  with  the  protection  of 
your  daughter,  and  if  you  ever  say  anything  to 
me  again  about  wages  I'll— 

Findlay  leaped  to  his   feet  and  seizing  the 


BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS  289 

speaker  by  the  collar  shook  him  until  the  vic- 
tim's head  spun.  "Talk  to  me  about  your  owing 
me  anything,  will  you,  you  degenerate!"  he 
yelled.  "Didn't  you  drag  my  girl  out  of  that 
wolf  gang  and  pack  her  home  in  your  arms 
through  snow  a  hundred  feet  deep?  And  didn't 
you  chase  that  pup  Cardiff  ki-yi-ing  into  the 
woods  when  he  insulted  her.  And  didn't  you 
save  her  from  being  burned  to  a  cinder  only  last 
week?  Talk  to  me  about  being  in  my  debt  and 
I'll  rub  your  nose  in  this  blooming  charcoal  pile 
until  it  looks  like  a  burnt  potato.  If  I  hadn't 
got  burned  out  I'd  have  done  business  hereafter 
under  the  firm  name  and  style  of  John  Findlay 
&  Co.,  and  you'd  have  been  the  Co.  Now  shut 
up." 

He  released  his  hold  and  sat  down  grumbling. 
Presently  Wilson  handed  him  a  match  without 
speaking,  as  a  peace  offering,  and  Findlay  began 
puffing  again.  Finally  he  spoke. 

"But  I'll  tell  you  what  I  wish  you  would  do 
for  me  free  gratis.  I'm  kind  of  dazed  and  want 
to  sit  around  on  my  thumb  for  a  week  and  see  if 
I  can  dig  anything  worth  having  out  of  this 
charcoal  pile  of  mine.  And  I'm  so  nervous  I 


290  BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS 

hate  to  have  Barbara  out  of  my  sight.  I  wish 
you  would — and  mind  you  I  ain't  going  to  offer 
you  any  money  for  it  for  I  ain't  used  to  eating 
small  change — I  wish  you  would  hike  over  to 
Lone  Creek  and  keep  your  eye  on  those  horses 
until  I  can  get  someone  to  relieve  you.  Will 
you?" 

"Glad  to.  Do  I  need  to  take  anything  with 
me?" 

"Not  a  thing  but  an  ax  on  your  back  for 
emergencies  along  the  road.  The  camp  is  full 
of  grub.  But  you  had  better  move  on  so  as  to 
make  it  before  dark."  He  got  up  and  went 
slowly  away,  hands  deep  in  pockets  and  puffing 
thoughtfully,  while  Wilson  securing  an  ax  from 
the  construction  train  turned  his  face  to  the  east. 

He  left  the  clearing  and  entered  the  Lone 
Creek  trail.  The  last  time  he  had  passed  this 
way  the  full  wealth  of  the  great  forest  had  been 
spread  before  him.  Trailing  arbutus  with  its 
waxen  leaves  running  everywhere;  ferns  deli- 
cate as  webs  bowing  their  slender  necks  across  the 
trail  to  brush  his  boots  as  he  passed ;  maples  show- 
ering soft  leaves  silently  down  to  carpet  his  path; 
cedars  scenting  the  way  and  pines  whispering  to 


BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS  291 

him  incessantly.  The  wild  life  of  the  woods  had 
been  about  him,  too.  Grunting  porcupines  am- 
bling away  and  hitching  themselves  up  the 
trunks  like  bear  cubs;  ravens  that  screamed  at 
him  from  lofty  look-outs,  squirrels  and  chip- 
munks, jack-birds  and  jays,  hawks  and  par- 
tridges, with  now  and  then  bands  of  deer,  the 
bucks  hornless  and  running  light,  the  does  fawn- 
bearing  and  heavy,  leaping  away  with  white  flags 
aloft  and  vanishing  in  a  dozen  bounds  amongst 
living  green  so  dense  that  no  eye  could  follow 
them.  But  where  all  this  had  been  he  now 
threaded  a  tangle  of  sodden  mounds  and  flame- 
licked  trunks  with  the  black  dust  arising  in  angry 
clouds  about  his  knees  and  the  sunlight  beating 
hot  upon  him  through  the  skeleton  limbs  of  the 
forest  dead;  himself  the  only  moving  thing  on 
ground  or  in  the  air;  the  land  as  lifeless  as  an 
alkali  desert  or  land  of  lava.  Loving  nature 
well  and  with  keen  eyes  and  nose  for  its  offerings, 
Wilson  could  have  wept  at  the  shame  of  it.  For 
the  grand  woodland  that  he  had  grown  to  love 
was  gone  for  all  time.  The  manifold  seeds  of 
forest  life  that  had  been  sown  by  the  winds  in 
the  beginning  and  nursed  through  countless  cen- 


292  BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS 

turies  by  sun  and  rain  into  a  wondrous  family 
of  stiff -spined  giants  and  swaying  lesser  growth, 
had  been  blighted  root  and  branch  in  a  single 
night,  irreparably  and  forever.  Fire  had  been 
the  destroyer,  the  grub  hook  and  the  plow  would 
be  the  sextons. 

A  creek  far  too  wide  to  leap  and  of  uncertain 
depth  barred  his  way  and  he  skirted  it  with  eyes 
fastened  upon  the  ground.  A  few  months  be- 
fore he  would  have  been  puzzled  as  to  how  to 
negotiate  this  paltry  thing  across  which  he  might 
have  tossed  a  stone,  but  now  the  problem  was 
simply  resolved  into  finding  that  for  which  he 
searched.  And  a  few  rods  further  on  he  came 
upon  it;  a  fallen  tree  of  suitable  size  lying  close 
to  the  bank.  Ten  minutes  of  ax  swinging  and 
he  had  cut  a  section  from  the  butt,  and  with  a  cut 
sapling  used  as  a  lever  and  a  stone  for  a  fulcrum 
he  rolled  the  log  into  the  stream  and  ran  sure- 
footedly  to  its  center.  Then  using  his  sapling 
as  push-pole  he  shoved  himself  across,  delicately 
poised,  and  alighting  unwet  pursued  his  way 
through  the  sooty  dust  that  squirted  from  under 
his  soles  at  each  step  like  black  powder  puffs 
from  pistols. 


BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS  293 

Six  miles  of  this  brought  him  to  the  edge  of 
the  unburnt  tract,  a  miraculously  preserved  oasis 
in  a  desert  of  death;  green  and  sweet  scented; 
standing  out  with  fourfold  its  wonted  vividness 
against  the  charcoal  background.  The  lone  man 
who  had  watched  tins'  camp  after  the  breaking 
up  of  its  crew  had  fled  before  the  fire  to  the 
refuge  of  the  river  without  taking  time  to  loose 
the  brutes  imprisoned  in  the  stable,  by  which 
mis  judgment  he  had  lost  his  life  and  the  animals 
had  been  saved.  Wilson  emerging  from  the 
charcoal  and  smut  of  the  burnt  territory  onto  the 
rich  grass,  stamped  his  feet  free  of  soot  and 
whisked  his  legs  into  a  semblance  of  cleanliness 
with  a  green  branch  as  he  advanced  upon  the 
camp  buildings.  From  within  the  stable  came 
the  furious  barking  of  a  dog,  and  the  visitor  call- 
ing a  pacific  greeting  slowly  opened  the  door. 
With  a  weasel-like  dart  through  the  orifice  there 
came  a  handsome  red  setter  who  skirted  the  new- 
comer at  a  safe  distance  as  he  racketed  tremend- 
ously from  between  his  bared  white  teeth.  Si- 
lently the  man  eyed  him  until  the  crescendo  of 
barks  had  dwindled  into  a  broken  series  of  gruff 
grunts,  then  held  out  his  hand.  The  brute  sank 


294  BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS 

until  his  belly  was  upon  the  ground,  and  with 
jaws  resting  upon  his  outstretched  paws  eyed  the 
newcomer  sharply. 

"Good  dog,"  said  the  man  heartily.  The  tail 
twitched  a  bit. 

"Come  here,"  commanded  Wilson  as  he 
squatted  also  and  snapped  his  fingers  before  the 
other.  Keenly  the  setter  studied  his  face  and 
then  with  a  whine  wiggled  a  few  feet  forward. 

"Nearer,  boy,"  urged  he  of  the  outstretched 
hand.  His  tone  was  half  command,  half  ap- 
peal, and  the  dog  crawling  close  laid  his  head 
submissively  on  the  boot  before  him.  Gently, 
as  caressingly  as  he  might  have  stroked  a  woman's 
tresses,  he  ran  his  hand  over  the  glossy  head  and 
silken  ears  until  the  four-footed  one  arose  and 
placing  his  fore  paws  upon  the  bent  knees  of 
the  man  laughed  full  in  the  face  above  him. 
And  in  that  moment  Wilson  had  made  another 
enduring  friendship. 

The  horses  he  found  none  the  worse  for  their 
experience  with  the  heat  and  smoke  but  suffer- 
ing keenly  from  thirst.  From  the  river  near  at 
hand  he  brought  as  much  water  as  he  dared  let 
them  drink  and  fed  them  double  rations.  Then 


BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS  295 

he  descended  tipon  the  cook  shanty.  Provisions 
he  found  in  abundance  in  barrels  and  upon  the 
shelves,  but  it  was  the  setter  who  with  nose 
eagerly  outstretched  led  him  straight  to  the  root 
cellar  with  its  hoarded  meat  supply.  The  meal 
finished  and  the  horses  bedded  down  and  well 
rubbed,  the  camp  watcher  perched  himself  upon 
a  pile  of  split  wood  near  the  cook  shanty  and  sat 
plunged  deep  in  thought  until  the  moon,  balloon- 
round,  came  sailing  through  the  forest  of  poles 
to  arouse  him  to  a  realization  of  his  weariness. 
With  the  deeply-drawn  sigh  of  one  who  had  pon- 
dered long  and  vainly  over  some  unsolvable 
problem  he  entered  the  bunkhouse,  closed  the 
door  and  threw  himself  upon  the  blankets. 

The  dull  throbbing  of  his  brain  granted  him 
no  rest.  From  side  to  side  he  rolled  as  he 
stretched  his  arms  into  the  darkness  as  though 
that  for  which  he  craved  was  a  thing  tangible 
that  hovered  there.  Not  since  the  first  few  hours 
following  his  crime,  when  he  had  fought  between 
the  alternative  of  flight  with  its  open  confession 
of  guilt,  and  surrender  to  a  living  burial  which 
he  felt  he  did  not  deserve,  had  he  been  so  brain- 
racked  as  now.  Endlessly  his  thoughts  went 


296  BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS 

over  the  events  of  the  last  few  days;  the  night> 
mare-like  flight  before  the  fire;  the  shivering, 
choking  night  in  the  lake  with  his  sacred  avowal 
of  a  love  that  was  greater  than  love  of  his  own 
life — a  passion  which  would  endure  as  long  as 
breath  remained  within  him.  Again  he  seemed  to 
feel  the  clinging  of  her  arms  as  she  sobbed,  not  at 
the  fear  of  death  as  death,  but  at  the  parting ;  her 
tear-wet  cheek  pressed  to  his;  and  lifting  his 
palms  to  his  aching  eyes  he  found  his  own 
cheeks  now  wet  as  hers  had  been.  He  would 
never  have  told  her  of  his  love  had  he  believed 
even  the  slightest  chance  of  life  remained.  But 
with  all  hope  abandoned,  the  seal  of  silence  that 
had  bound  his  lips  had  burst  before  the  wild  long- 
ing to  tell  her  all  before  the  light  went  out  that 
she  might  understand  why  he  held  her  so  tightly. 
He  had  known  that  his  own  passing  would  be 
the  easier  if  he  bore  her  with  him;  hers  none  the 
harder  for  being  borne,  so  he  had  spoken  and 
she  with  the  jaws  of  death  closing  upon  them 
had  opened  her  woman's  heart  and  taken  him 
within  it.  But  they  had  lived  after  all.  His 
fingers  buried  themselves  in  the  blanket  in  an 
agony  of  helplessness.  What  would  she  think 


BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS  297 

of  him  if  after  those  words,  burning  as  the  fire 
itself,  and  after  having  consecrated  herself  to 
him  at  the  very  threshold  of  eternity,  he,  now 
free,  should  recant  them  or  say  no  more  ?  What 
would  any  woman  think  of  a  man  like  that? 
"Hound"  would  be  a  compliment;  "cur"  rank 
flattery;  "liar  unspeakable"  alone  adequate. 
Yet  he  had  no  more  right  to  ask  her  to  marry 
him  than  he  had  to  demand  that  she  cut  off  her 
right  hand.  Even  should  he  murder  his  con- 
science and  take  her  to  him  only  misery  and 
shame  could  result.  Some  day  he  would  be  dis- 
covered and  torn  from  her  to  leave  her  a  con- 
vict's widow,  or  if  with  children — 

The  ceaseless  gnaw  of  some  sharp-toothed 
creature  near  the  door  rasped  on  his  nerves  like 
the  filing  of  a  saw  and  he  shouted  for  the  beast 
to  go  away.  For  a  moment  following  his  cry 
the  sound  ceased,  then  continued  without  cessa- 
tion until  he  could  no  longer  endure  it.  Pick- 
ing up  an  ax  handle  he  sprang  out  into  the  moon- 
light. A  porcupine  whirled  from  some  grease- 
covered  object  that  it  had  been  gnawing  and 
went  lumbering  away  with  quills  threatening. 
Deep  into  the  darkness  he  drove  the  disturbing 


298  BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS 

beast  with  sharp  pokes  of  his  weapon  that  set 
the  short  tail  to  flicking  wickedly,  and  then  as 
he  returned  chanced  to  remember  that  he  had  not 
seen  the  setter  since  feeding  him.  Raising  his 
voice  he  called  to  him,  and  the  voice  failing  to 
bring  a  response  he  whistled  shrilly  upon  his 
fingers.  From  far  within  the  blackened  skele- 
ton forest  came  frenzied  barkings  followed  by 
the  howl  of  a  wolf  as  he  ran  the  waste  in  search 
of  half -cooked  carcasses.  Again  and  again  the 
man  shrilled  his  call,  but  the  dog  only  responded 
by  renewed  barkings  until  at  last  Wilson  re- 
turned to  his  blankets  with  the  fervent  prayer 
that  now  sleep  might  come  to  him.  And  event- 
ually it  did,  but  with  the  fitfulness  of  slumbers, 
made  unresting  by  the  shapes  of  the  dark  land  of 
semi-consciousness. 

But  his  troubles  for  the  night  were  not  yet 
over.  Scarcely  it  seemed  had  he  closed  his  eyes 
than  he  was  awakened  by  the  thud  of  a  heavy 
body  leaping  upon  the  low  roof,  followed  by 
the  rattle  of  long  claws  as  the  beast  possessing 
them  made  his  way  over  the  tar-paper-covered 
boards.  From  end  to  end  of  the  long  building 
the  intruder  pattered  and  rattied  until  the  awak- 


BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS  299 

ened  one  below  once  more  crawled  from  his  bunk. 
From  a  pair  of  deer  horns  he  took  the  abandoned 
rifle  of  his  predecessor,  and  feeling  his  way  to 
the  door  slipped  without.  Around  the  corner 
of  the  building  he  went  stealthily  and  then 
paused  to  look  up.  The  moon  was  gone,  but 
against  the  star-sprinkled  sky  he  could  make  out 
the  dim  outline  of  a  wolfish  creature  that  stood 
upon  the  ridge  pole  with  red  eyes  fastened  upon 
him.  He  raised  his  gun  until  the  barrel  covered 
the  form,  but  in  the  act  of  pulling  the  trigger 
paused  to  reflect.  The  idea  of  a  wolf  on  the  roof 
seemed  preposterous — a  cat  creature  would  not 
have  been  so  improbable — but  the  retractile 
claws  of  a  cat  creature  do  not  rattle  whereas  the 
stiff  toe  nails  of  a  wolf  do.  Again  he  was  in  the 
very  act  of  firing  when  with  an  excited  yelp  the 
setter  came  bounding  down  from  the  ridge  pole 
and  leaping  to  the  ground  disappeared  yelling 
into  the  darkness.  The  next  second  the  aston- 
ished listener  heard  a  snarl  and  the  sounds  of  a 
chase  that  ended  in  a  long-drawn  howl  and  the 
sudden  reappearance  of  the  dog  all  abristle. 
And  it  was  not  until  after  several  nights  of  ob- 
servation and  putting  things  together  that  Wil- 


300  BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS 

son  learned  that  all  these  strange  proceedings 
were  but  the  incidents  of  a  dare-devil  game  of 
hide  and  seek  invented  by  the  dog  to  while  away 
the  time.  As  night  came  he  would  seek  the  edge 
of  the  forest  and  by  his  challenges  draw  the 
wolves  around  him  until  the  limit  of  recklessness 
was  reached,  whereupon  he  would  flee  across  the 
clearing  and  leaping  upon  the  low  roof  where  he 
knew  no  wolf  dared  follow,  bay  them  to  his 
heart's  content. 

Wilson  remained  at  the  camp  alone  save  for 
the  dog  and  horses  for  a  week,  pacing  his  island 
around  Crusoe-like  and  for  the  most  of  the  time 
lost  in  thought.  But  when  relief  came  and  he 
went  back  to  mankind  his  mind  had  been  made 
irrevocably.  He  had  fled  from  the  law  telling 
himself  that  he  went  in  order  that  he  might  in 
his  freedom  and  through  the  sweat  of  his  brow 
do  a  man's  work  in  the  world ;  sacrificing  himself 
should  opportunities  come  that  others  might  be 
made  happier,  and  he  would  see  to  it  that  that 
self -promise  had  been  no  thin  disguise  to  cover 
cowardice.  He  had  lived  simply,  cleanly,  man- 
fully, and  had  reaped  the  reward  that  such  a 
life  brings.  He  had  repented  in  suffering, 


BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS  301 

learned  fortitude  and  calmness,  and  now  felt  that 
he  could  bear  whatever  fate  held  in  store  for  him 
as  John  Findlay  had  borne  his  great  misfortune ; 
as  Barbara  had  borne  hers.  By  means  of  his 
money  he  could  once  more  start  the  old  logger 
in  a  business  employing  hundreds  of  workers 
who  in  turn  by  their  toil  would  provide  for  other 
hundreds  unable  to  work  but  who  yet  must  live. 
By  means  of  his  money  the  lumberman's  trail 
could  be  cleared  so  broad  and  smooth  that  he 
could  walk  it  without  fear  or  care  until  he  could 
walk  no  more;  and  by  means  of  his  money  Bar- 
bara could  and  should  come  into  her  own.  As 
for  himself — well,  he  would  have  made  all  the 
reparation  that  a  man  could  make,  and  with  his 
conscience  at  rest  he  would  put  himself  fearlessly 
into  the  scales.  He  had  justified  his  flight,  and 
in  the  consciousness  of  having  done  so  he  strode 
on  fearlessly.  Purposely  he  swung  his  feet  far 
as  he  strode.  They  would  soon  be  doing  the 
narrow  lock-step. 


CHAPTER  XVIII 

UPON  the  evening  of  his  arrival  in  town,  Wil- 
son rapped  on  the  door  of  the  modest  little 
boarding  house  in  Phoenix  where  John  Find- 
lay  and  Barbara  had  secured  quarters.  There 
were  no  servants  to  open  the  doors  of  boarding 
houses  in  Phoenix  when  callers  came,  that  duty 
devolving  upon  any  inmate  of  the  place  who 
heard  the  rap  and  felt  inclined  to  answer  it. 
Barbara  sitting  alone  in  the  little  parlor  and  try- 
ing to  read,  heard  the  familiar  footfalls  coming 
up  the  steps  and  with  a  quick  catching  of  her 
breath  threw  down  the  paper  and  listened  with 
straining  ears  for  the  summons  upon  the  panel. 
She  had  not  seen  him  since  the  day  he  had 
brought  her  bedraggled  and  singed  into  Phoenix, 
and  now  it  seemed  as  though  she  must  choke,  so 
great  was  the  upward  bound  of  her  heart.  Her 
father  had  explained  the  cause  of  his  absence, 
and  it  was  with  the  knowledge  that  he  would 
soon  return  to  her,  not  with  death  but  with  life 

302 


BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS  303 

before  them  now  that  had  made  the  past  week 
the  happiest  of  her  life  despite  her  grief  over 
the  logger's  misfortune.  For  what  mattered  the 
money  loss  after  all  with  this  strong  man,  this 
indomitable  and  ever-resourceful  one  committed 
to  their  cause?  Happiness  would  be  theirs  from 
the  start,  and  fortune  would  be  powerless  to  long 
resist  him.  He  was  irresistible;  impossible  of 
denial;  all-compelling.  Her  confidence  in  him 
was  as  great  as  her  confidence  in  immortality. 

The  knock  fell,  not  with  his  usual  frank  re- 
quest for  admission,  but  with  the  half-hearted 
tapping  of  a  country  lover  who  frightened  at  his 
temerity  has  half  a  mind  to  round  about  before 
the  summons  can  be  answered.  Opening  the 
door  she  stood  before  him.  She  made  no  move 
to  make  right  of  way  that  he  might  enter,  but 
stood  fairly  in  his  path  with  her  face  upturned 
and  her  eyes  and  lips  smiling  into  his,  thinking — 
what  does  any  honest  woman  think  when  the 
man  to  whom  she  has  given  her  heart  comes  to 
her  with  the  first  avowal  of  his  love  for  her 
scarcely  a  week  old  on  his  lips !  Her  mouth  .rich 
and  sweet  as  any  mouth  that  ever  tempted  man 
was  so  near  his  own  that  a  mere  bending  of  his 


304  BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS 

neck  would  have  sufficed,  but  he  steeled  himself 
against  its  offering  and  without  speaking  took 
her  hands  in  his  and  led  her  to  a  sofa.  Barbara, 
failing  to  understand  his  wordless  greeting  and 
dull  eyes,  grew  cold  with  the  apprehension  of 
ill  news  to  come.  Had  something  dreadful  hap- 
pened— or  had  he  with  life  and  freedom  once 
more  before  him  come  to  tell  her  that  his  words 
were  lies;  that  his  love  had  burned  out  with  the 
fire  and  that  his  caresses  were  but  mockeries? 
She  slipped  her  hands  from  his  with  a  stiffening 
of  the  fingers  that  forbade  any  effort  to  retain 
them  and  sat  looking  at  him  askance  as  distrust  of 
him  for  the  first  time  crawled  into  her  soul.  As 
for  him,  he  wiped  his  brow  nervously  and  sought 
again  almost  mechanically  to  close  her  fingers 
within  his  own/.  She  shook  the  touch  off  as 
she  might  have  ridden  herself  of  a  crawling  in- 
sect, shrinking  a  little  as  though  the  insect  had 
been  a  particularly  obnoxious  one.  Wilson 
sought  to  clear  his  voice  by  a  dry  cough,  but 
when  he  spoke  she  scarcely  recognized  his  own 
tones. 

"Have  you  been  well,  Barbara?" 


BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS  305 

"Quite.     And  you?" 

"Not  very.  In  fact  I  am  in  trouble — great 
trouble,  Barbara."  In  the  quick  sympathy  for 
him  that  swelled  within  her  it  was  now  her  hand, 
not  his,  that  did  the  searching. 

"Tell  me,"  she  pleaded. 

His  glance  dropped  and  he  sat  staring  at 
the  floor,  staring  until  she  grew  frightened  and 
spoke  again.  "I  will  think  it  unkind  of  you 
if  you  do  not  tell  me.  Perhaps  I  might  be  of 
some  little  aid  or  comfort.  Cannot  you  trust 
me?"  The  man  aroused  himself  and  turned  his 
face  towards  hers. 

"Barbara,  believe  me  it  is  too  painful  to  talk 
about.  Merely  I  am  going  away  to-morrow 
forever.  That  is  all  I  can  say  now,  but  later 
on  you  shall  know  all  about  it.  I  have  come 
to-night  on  business — business  with  your  father. 
Is  he  here?" 

"Going  away  forever — and  you  wish  to  see 
father!  Nothing  more?" 

"Nothing  more."  The  words  came  from 
him  as  a  condemned  man  might  have  spoken 
them  from  the  trap  before  the  hood  was  drawn. 


306  BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS 

Without  another  word  she  arose  and  started 
across  the  room,  the  scarlet  of  shame  flaming 
in  her  cheeks.  He  sprang  after  her. 

"Barbara — Barbara!  one  moment.  Don't 
misunderstand  me — don't  judge  me  to-night. 
Wait  until  you  have  heard  from  me,  I  beg  you. 
I  meant  what  I  told  you  that  night ;  every  word ; 
every  touch  as  much  as  a  man  can  mean. 
Wait — "  But  her  knuckles  were  beating  a 
tattoo  upon  a  door  and  from  within  already  came 
the  sound  of  John  Findlay's  voice  demanding 
what  was  wanted.  The  girl's  voice  was  abso- 
lutely emotionless  as  she  made  her  reply. 

"Mr.  Wilson  has  called  to  see  you.  Please 
come  at  once."  Then  she  faced  him  with  her 
back  against  the  wall  and  her  chin  held  high. 
Incongruous  as  was  the  thought,  in  that  instant 
she  reminded  him  of  a  thoroughbred  that  he 
had  once  struck  with  a  whip;  the  poise  of  her 
graceful  head  held  high  in  anger  and  wounded 
pride  being  the  poise  of  the  thoroughbred's  to  a 
hair. 

He  sank  back  in  his  seat  looking  at  her  re- 
proachfully. "You  should  have  listened  to  me 
for  a  moment,"  he  said  at  last. 


BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS  307 

"But  you  said  there  was  nothing  more." 

The  silence  fell  after  that  and  twenty  sec- 
onds ticked  themselves  into  the  irredeemable. 
Then  the  door  opened  and  Findlay  came  forth 
with  hand  outstretched  and  sincere  greeting  upon 
his  lips.  "Glad  to  see  you  back,  boy.  ,  What's 
the  racket.  Anything  I  can  do  for  you?" 

"Yes,  I  would  like  to  speak  to  you.  I 
thought  perhaps  you  might  like  to  take  a 
walk — "  he  turned  to  the  girl.  "That  is  if  Miss 
Barbara  will  pardon  such  discourtesy."  She 
nodded  indifferently. 

"I  most  certainly  have  no  desire  to  listen  to 
business  secrets.  Permit  me  to  leave  the  par- 
lor in  your  possession,"  she  returned  as  she 
sought  the  narrow  stairs.  But  Wilson's  quick 
protest  backed  by  her  father's  half  command 
caused  her  to  pause. 

"No,  daughter.  Men  can  talk  business  to 
better  advantage  as  they  loaf  around  out  of 
doors.  More  room  for  their  brains  to  expand, 
you  see.  Besides  I  want  to  smoke  my  pipe," 
said  Findlay  as  he  opened  the  street  door  and 
passed  out.  Wilson  upon  the  threshold  sent 
her  a  look  of  appeal  that  she  judge  him  not  until 


SOS  BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS 

she  knew  the  whereof  of  it  all,  but  her  eyes 
were  as  unresponsive  as  the  eyes  of  a  sphynx. 
He  had  sworn  that  he  loved  her  beyond  life 
itself  and  had  begged  that  she  give  him  but  some 
little  token  that  she  cared  for  him  in  return; 
and  in  that  moment  she  had  committed  herself  to 
his  arms  to  hold  and  be  held  as  long  as  life  re- 
mained, yet  now,  the  next  time  she  saw  him  it 
was  but  to  hear  the  cold  avowal  that  he  was 
going  away  forever.  There  was  nothing  more 
to  be  said  or  done.  Looks,  words,  partings  were 
worse  than  useless.  It  would  be  better  if  even 
thought  could  be  banished. 

Outside  Findlay  lighted  his  pipe.  "  Go  on," 
he  puffed.  With  his  chin  dropped  to  his  bosom 
Wilson  nerved  himself  to  the  effort. 

"I  have  considerable  to  say  to  you,  Mr.  Find- 
lay.  Can  you  spare  me  half  an  hour?" 

"As  long  as  you  wish.  I  am  a  gentleman  of 
leisure  now  for  sure.  Nothing  gone  wrong  I 
hope." 

"Nothing  has  happened  since  the  fire.  I  am 
going  away  by  the  morning  train  and  I  am  not 
coming  back." 

The  elder  man  paused  in  his  stride  to  face  the 


BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS  309 

speaker.  "That's  bad,  and  I  am  mighty  sorry 
to  hear  it.  Still,  I  suppose  I  should  not  be 
surprised.  This  country  has  gone  to  hell  and 
I  can't  hire  you  any  longer,  so  of  course  it  isn't 
a  bad  time  to  clear  out.  But  you  don't  need 
to  go  far,  and  it  doesn't  have  to  be  forever. 
By  some  interposition  of  that  party  who  always 
looks  after  his  own,  the  Badger  Company  got 
off  with  a  scorch  and  a  scare  and  they  will  need 
as  many  men  as  ever  next  season.  ISTo  trouble 
for  you  to  catch  on  with  them." 

"But  I  am  going  to  quit  the  woods  for  good. 
I  am  going  back  to  town."  The  elder  man  re- 
sumed his  walk  with  a  shrug  of  his  shoulders. 

"Seems  foolish  to  me — that  is  unless  you  have 
got  something  in  sight.  You  are  four  times 
the  man  you  were  when  you  came  into  this  neck 
of  the  woods.  But  of  course  you  know  your 
own  business  best.  However,  I  thought  you 
liked  it  up  here." 

Wilson  drew  the  back  of  his  hand  across  his 
eyes.  There  seemed  to  be  a  blur  in  them  and 
he  felt  giddy.  "I  have  thought  matters  over 
for  a  week  and  it  seems  to  be  the  only  course. 
And  in  that  connection,  I  have  got  to  take  back 


310  BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS 

what  I  said  to  you  about  money.  I  am  broke 
and  must  have  a  hundred  dollars,  not  as  wages 
but  as  a  loan.  Can  you  raise  it  for  me?" 

"No  loan  about  it.  You  shall  have  the  full 
amount  I  owe  you.  I  have  arranged  with  Claw- 
son,  the  hardware  man,  to  advance  me  what  I 
need  until  I  sell  my  horses  and  get  straightened 
out.  My  personal  credit  is  good  for  what  I 
need,  but  when  it  comes  to  borrowing  money 
enough  to  go  into  business  again — well,  I  can't 
do  it.  No  one  doubts  my  honesty,  but  they  do 
doubt  my  ability  to  come  back.  I  am  getting 
old  and  my  active  working  years  are  numbered 
and  I  am  no  longer  a  good  business  risk.  See 
the  point?" 

"Yes,  and  I  assure  you  again  that  it  is  to  be 
but  a  thirty-day  loan.  I  am  not  going  to  tell 
you  very  much  to-night,  but  I  will  write  you 
in  full  not  a  great  deal  later.  The  truth  of  the 
matter  is  I  had  some  trouble  and  came  away- 
some  trouble  down  there."  He  waved  his  hand 
comprehensively  towards  the  south  and  for  a 
dozen  paces  no  more  was  said.  When  the  elder 
man  spoke  again  it  was  with  a  simple  sincerity 


BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS  311 

that  contrasted  sharply  with  his  usual  half  flip- 
pancy. 

"Now  I  am  sorry  to  hear  that;  sorry  for  your- 
self; sorry  for  myself  and  sorry  for  Barbara. 
That  girl  thinks  a  lot  of  you,  boy — as  any  woman 
naturally  would  of  a  man  who  had  done  as  much 
for  her  as  you  have  for  my  girl.  Of  course  I 
don't  mean  to  say  she  is  in  love  with  you  or  any- 
thing like  that,  but  she  likes  you  all-fired  well 
anyway.  And  if  she  knew  you  were  in  trouble 
it  would  worry  her  quite  a  bit,  I  guess.  Going 
to  tell  her  that  you  are  going  away  for  keeps?" 

"I  have  told  her,  and  am  going  to  write  her." 

"What  did  she  say  to  it?" 

"Nothing." 

The  .silence  fell  again,  broken  only  by  the 
tread  of  their  feet  on  the  board  walk.  Findlay's 
fingers  closed  upon  the  younger  man's  arm  and 
most  of  his  old  cheerfulness  was  in  his  next  sen- 
tences. "Anyway,  it  can't  be  very  serious 
trouble  or  you  would  not  be  going  back  to  it, 
so  that's  one  consolation."  The  hand  grip  grew 
more  confidential.  "You  haven't  quarreled 
with  the  girl  have  you — had  a  little  spat?" 


312  BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS 

"AT-     J> 

J\O. 

The  lumberman's  face  grew  puzzled.  "Xow 
do  you  know  you  two  have  got  me  holed  up  and 
a  smudge  started  at  the  opening.  I  thought  I 
knew  Barbara,  and  I  had  imagined  for  some 
time  past  that  she  was  pretty  much  interested 
in  you.  You  see  she  is  just  like  her  mother — 
couldn't  deceive  you  if  she  wanted  to,  and  when 
you  have  once  learned  her  alphabet  you  can 
read  her  like  a  book.  I  didn't  protest,  because 
I  knew  if  I  was  right  in  my  thoughts  it  wouldn't 
do  any  good  to  say  anything.  Surprising  to 
see  how  obstinate  she  can  be  when  she  gets  set 
on  anything — just  like  her  mother  again  and  so 
different  from  me.  And  I  ain't  saying  that  I 
would  have  protested  anyway.  It  never  oc- 
cured  to  me  that  you  or  any  other  man  wouldn't 
jump  out  of  his  skin  to  get  a  smile  from  her, 
so  I  thought  you  two  would  just  naturally 
gravitate.  So  I  kept  my  eye  on  you  to  see  if 
I  should  fire  you  or  promote  you,  and  when  I 
found  out  that  you  had  decency  as  well  as  brains 
and  pluck  I  decided  on  the  promotion.  When 
you  knocked  that  whisky  glass  out  of  my  hand 
I  was  tickled.  But  now  it  seems  that  I  was 


BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS  313 

fooled  all  around  and  the  joke  is  on  me.  Glad 
of  it,  too.  Want  to  keep  her  for  a  few  more 
years  to  myself.  It  was  because  I  thought  you 
liked  each  other's  company  that  I  made  you 
her  guardian  pro  tern.  Thought  I  might  as  well 
recognize  the  situation  officially,  you  see.  Gosh, 
but  you  certainly  did  appear  to  be  interested  in 
each  other  that  night  you  took  supper  with 
us." 

"And  I  am  more  interested  in  her  than  in  any 
other  person  in  the  world.  She  is  the  bravest, 
sweetest,  honestest  woman  I  have  ever  known." 
Findlay  puffed  his  dying  pipe  into  life,  sending 
the  smoke  jets  shooting  from  his  mouth  with  the 
short  explosions  of  a  hoisting  engine.  "Any- 
way I  am  glad  you  parted  good  friends.  Is 
it  really  some  trouble  down  there  that  is  tak- 
ing you  away,  Mr — "  He  stopped  short  again 
and  looked  into  the  other's  face.  "By  the  way, 
what  is  your  other  name,  Wilson?  Been  going 
to  ask  you  a  dozen  times  but  never  happened 
to  think  of  it  when  you  were  around.  Jim  or 
Dick  or  Bill  or  something  like  that?" 

"No.     Stoddard." 

"Stoddard  Wilson."     Findlay  became  mus- 


•• 


314  BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS 

ing.  "Kind  of  sounds  as  if  you  had  the  old 
mare  hitched  tail  first  to  the  manger.  Wilson 
Stoddard  would  be  more  euphonious.  But  it 
don't  matter,  Stoddard.  Going  to  tell  me  your 
trouble?" 

"Not  to-night.  But  I  will  when  I  write  you 
and  return  the  loan." 

"Drat  the  loan.  Now  let's  swedge  down  to 
the  line."  The  speaker  grew  serious  again  and 
the  hand  grip  tightened.  "I  ain't  in  the  habit 
of  mincing  words  and  I'm  not  going  to  now. 
From  what  I  gather  out  of  your  talk  you  did 
something  outside  of  Hoyle  back  there  in  town 
and  are  going  back  to  face  the  band.  Correct?" 

"Yes." 

"All  right.  Now  these  are  my  private  ideas 
on  that  subject  spoken  right  out  loud.  You  say 
you  are  going  to  write  my  girl  and  I  am  inter- 
ested to  that  extent  at  least.  There  are  some 
steps  that  a  young  man  can  take  when  he  is 
dancing  his  first  fling  in  life  when  his  blood 
tingles  through  him  like  hard  cider,  and  be  a 
man  for  a'  that — then  again  there  are  others 
that  he  can't  take.  For  instance,  if  young 
George  had  hacked  down  old  George's  pet 


BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS  315 

cherry  sapling  out  of  pure  cussedness  he'd  never 
have  been  president,  because  he'd  have  had  a 
natural  mean  streak  in  him  that  the  people 
wouldn't  have  overlooked.  But  being  that  he 
did  it  merely  out  of  a  desire  to  try  that  new 
hatchet,  why,  that  was  nothing  but  natural — just 
plain  boy.  And  I  reckon  the  old  sinners  that 
used  to  sit  around  on  the  dry  goods  boxes  and 
pound  their  heels  never  did  get  over  poking  fun 
at  old  George  about  it.  Same  way  with  a  young 
man.  Can't  expect  him  to  shut  his  eyes  every 
time  a  pretty  woman  commences  to  dare  him, 
but  he  can  be  fairly  decent  and  above  board 
about  it  and  not  kick  the  ten  commandments 
clear  out  of  the  frame.  But  if  he  goes  prowl- 
ing around  under  a  cloak,  deceiving  good  women 
and  making  them  love  him,  lying  to  them, 
promising  them  everything  one  day  and  cut- 
ting them  cold  and  breaking  their  hearts  the 
next — that  kind  of  a  critter  is  pure  skunk  and 
he  had  better  keep  away  from  me  and  mine. 
That's  one  kind  of  a  man  that  I'd  go  trailing 
if  he  fooled  around  my  girl.  Catch  the  point?" 

"Yes,"  gulped  Wilson,  turning  his  face  away. 

"And  another  breed  of  man  that  has  no  busi- 


316  BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS 

ness  breathing  the  air  of  the  same  county  with  de- 
cent women  is  a  man  who  has  got  a  criminal  past 
and  who  has  run  away  from  it — left  a  wife  or 
done  some  other  dirt,  and  who  will  go  to  some 
other  place  and  win  a  woman's  love,  marry  her 
and  half  raise  a  family,  and  then  when  he  is 
caught  and  jerked  to  the  calaboose  leave  her  and 
those  youngsters  to  the  eternal  shame  of  it.  But 
of  course  I'm  only  speaking  generally  and 
wasn't  thinking  of  anybody  in  particular.  I 
don't  know  what  your  trouble  is  and  I  ain't  going 
to  try  and  nose  it  up.  And  I'll  say  right  now 
that  I  would  bet  ten  years  of  my  life  you 
wouldn't  do  either  of  the  things  I  mentioned,  for 
if  there  are  two  things  in  the  world  that  John 
Findlay  thinks  he  is  wise  about  they  are  horses 
and  men.  I've  handled  too  many  of  both  kinds 
of  those  animals  not  to  know  a  good  deal  about 
them.  Let's  go  back  and  get  that  money." 

Sick  at  heart  and  brooding  over  the  other's 
words  Stoddard  strode  silently  along  while 
Findlay,  unspeaking  also  now  that  his  say  was 
done,  left  a  long  trail  of  tobacco  smoke  stream- 
ing behind  him.  At  the  hardware  store  the 
lumberman  thrust  the  bills  into  his  companion's 


BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS  817 

hand  with  a  hearty  shake,  his  other  palm  rest- 
ing upon  the  broad  shoulder  before  him. 

"Don't  ever  think  of  returning  it  and  send  me 
your  address  when  you  write  so  that  I  can  for- 
ward the  rest  that  is  coming  to  you.  Your 
train  goes  out  at  six  A.  M.,  and  inasmuch  as  I 
can  do  nothing  more  I  may  not  go  over  to 
the  depot.  Good-by,  boy.  Good  luck.  And 
if  you  ever  get  up  against  a  brace  game  just 
call  on  John  Findlay.  I  may  not  have  much 
of  a  stake,  but  after  what  you  have  done  for 
my  girl  if  it's  fifty  cents  or  fifty  thousand  we'll 
split  it  even." 

Stoddard's  fingers  closed  tightly  around  those 
of  the  other.  "Mr.  Findlay,  I  simply  wish  to 
say  that  as  I  respect  and  like  Miss  Barbara 
above  all  other  women  the  same  as  I  respect  and 
like  you  above  all  other  men.  You  will  hear 
from  me  within  thirty  days  and  there  is  one  last 
favor  I  want  you  to  promise  me.  Will  you  do 
it?" 

"Reckon  I  will.     Name  it." 

"That  you  won't  sell  those  horses  until  you 
hear  from  me." 

Findlay  puffed  out  his  cheeks.     "But  I've  got 


318  BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS 

to  have  money,  you  know.  Where  else  am  I 
going  to  get  it?" 

"Borrow  enough  to  tide  you  over  for  a  month 
and  hang  on  to  everything  you  have  that  is  of 
value  unless  you  can  sell  it  for  more  than  it 
is  worth.  You  gave  me  credit  for  having  some 
sense,  and  now  I  tell  you  I  am  talking  it. 
Will  you  take  my  word  for  it?" 

"Well,  now  you  have  got  me  treed  again,  but 
I'll  be  cross-sawed  if  I  don't,  Stoddard."  With 
a  last  silent  pressure  of  their  hands  they  went 
their  separate  ways. 

Wilson,  leaving  the  next  morning  at  six  o'- 
clock, from  the  back  platform  of  the  car  kept  his 
eyes  eagerly  alert  for  the  little  boarding  house 
that  stood  within  a  few  rods  of  the  track.  And 
as  the  train  rolled  past  it  he  saw  at  one  of  the 
windows  a  woman  with  a  pale  face  and  a  glori- 
ous crown  of  dark  hair  who  stood  motionless  be- 
fore the  pane  watching  the  accommodation  as 
it  pulled  out  of  the  village.  For  a  moment  the 
impulse  was  almost  irresistible  for  him  to  hold 
out  his  arms  towards  her  in  a  last  token  of  his 
longing,  but  conquering  it  he  but  raised  his  cap 
perfunctorily.  She  gave  him  no  farewell  signal, 


BARBARA  Of  THE  SNOWS  319 

no  sign  that  she  was  aware  that  he  was  pass- 
ing from  her  life  forever ;  but  with  his  last  strain- 
ing look  from  far  down  the  track  he  saw  her  turn 
fom  the  window  and  cover  her  face  with  her 
hands. 


CHAPTER  XIX 

Two  days  later  Wilson,  clean  shaven  and 
dressed  in  a  plain  business  suit,  opened  the  door 
of  the  general  offices  of  Edward  Hamilton, 
counselor-at-law,  and  passing  the  youth  on 
guard  in  the  reception  room  stepped  unan- 
nounced into  the  attorney's  private  office.  The 
latter  looked  up  with  a  frown  of  annoyance  at 
the  intrusion,  then  stared  open-mouthed. 

"Wilson  Stoddard — or  his  sunburnt  ghost — 
sure  as  Blackstone  was  a  lawyer!"  he  gasped  as 
he  slowly  arose  from  his  chair  with  his  gaze 
wandering  over  the  other's  form.  Then  with 
two  quick  steps  he  was  before  the  caller  and 
wringing  his  hand.  "What — when — why  the 
devil  don't  you  talk?  Sit  down  there  and  say 
something  to  break  the  spell." 

"Glad  to  see  you,  Ed." 

A  sickly  smile  ran  across  the  attorney's  face. 
"Enthusiastic  greeting  from  one  fresh  out  of 

320 


BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS  321 

the  grave — or  haven't  you  been  really  dead  at 
all?" 

"Do  I  look  as  though  I  had?" 

The  counselor  eyed  the  tobacco  leaf  color  of 
the  other's  cheeks  and  grinned  a  little.  "Not 
unless  you  spent  your  ghost  period  in  some  place 
where  they  tan  people  up  considerably.  But 
let's  get  down  to  business.  Where  have  you 
been  all  these  months?" 

"In  the  great  out  doors  where  the  snow  was 
not  muck,  but  as  light  and  white  as  whipped 
cream.  Also,  where  there  was  air  that  had  never 
been  breathed  before  and  rivers  that  swing 
through  forests  of  real  trees  as  tall  as  this  ten 
story  building.  Now  do  you  know?" 

"No,  but  by  George  you  look  it.  You  are 
only  about  three  shades  lighter  than  a  wooden 
Indian  and  you  look  just  as  solid."  He  reached 
forth  a  tentative  hand  and  felt  the  swelling 
muscles  of  the  other's  arm,  turned  over  a 
browned  hand  and  looked  at  the  callouses  of  the 
palm  and  chuckled  with  delight.  No  athlete 
had  ever  had  a  harder  "rooter"  in  his  behalf  than 
had  Wilson  possessed  in  this  lawyer  man  in  their 
college  days ;  and  none  had  regretted  Stoddard's 


322  BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS 

downfall  more  than  had  this  same  Hamilton. 
And  now  to  see  his  physical  idol  come  to  his 
own  again  was  a  greater  joy  to  the  man  of  books 
than  had  the  other  handed  him  a  wrallet  full  of 
bills.  His  delight  was  boundless. 

"Say,  but  you  are  great.  Clear  eyed,  hard 
as  nails  and  ten  pounds  heavier  than  you  ever 
were  before  at  that.  You've  cut  out  the  fizz  I 
take  it — and  a  mighty  good  job  too,  by  the  way. 
You  don't  know  how  you  had  us  all  worried  for 
a  while."  Hamilton  whirled  around  to  his  desk 
and  scratched  away  hastily  with  his  pen  as  he 
rattled  on.  "Just  you  wait  until  I  get  these 
deeds  filled  out.  Going  to  take  you  over  to  the 
Athletic  Club  then  and  show  you  to  the  boys. 
They'll  be  tickled  to  death  to  see  you  so  fit. 
Back  in  a  minute."  He  jumped  from  his  chair 
and  hurried  into  the  outer  office  with  the  deeds, 
leaving  his  caller  staring  after  him  with  growing 
bewilderment. 

The  meaning  of  it  all  was  as  far  beyond  Stod- 
dard's  comprehension  as  the  stars.  Where  he 
had  expected  side  glances  of  aversion,  or  at  best 
but  a  clammy  shaking  of  the  hand,  Hamilton 
could  not  have  appeared  more  delighted  to  have 


BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS  323 

welcomed  home  his  long  lost  brother.  And  he 
had  been  a  warm  friend  of  the  slain  man  as 
well  as  of  himself.  Dully  Stoddard  ran  the 
other's  words  through  his  mind.  "Take  you 
over  to  the  Athletic  Club  and  show  you  to  the 
boys.  They  will  be  tickled  to  death  to  see  you 
so  fit !"  What  meant  it  all  that  they,  the  friends 
and  chums  of  the  man  he  had  killed  would  be 
tickled  to  see  his  murderer  strong  and 
well?  Was  Hamilton's  joyous  greeting  but 
a  subterfuge  to  disarm  him?  And  was  his 
hurried  exit  but  a  trick  to  detain  him  while 
he  summoned  the  police?  He  dismissed  the 
thought  with  a  blush  of  self  shame.  Edward 
Hamilton  was  not  that  sort  of  a  man.  As  soon 
would  he  be  guilty  of  such  trickery  himself. 
But  the  lawyer's  conduct  was  totally  beyond  his 
powers  of  analysis. 

Hamilton  returning  pulled  his  chair  close  be- 
fore the  other  and  laid  his  hand  upon  his  knee. 
"Wish  you  would  tell  me  all  about  it,  old  man. 
We  had  all  given  you  up  for  dead.  When  the 
months  rolled  by  with  no  trace  of  you,  we  all 
thought  you  had  been  so  cut  up  over  poor  Gray- 
ford's  death  that  you — well,  that  you  had  done 


324  BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS 

something  foolish  to  yourself,  to  tell  the  plain 
truth.  You  were  not  in  very  good  shape  then, 
you  know.  The  boys  have  not  got  through 
speculating  and  mourning  over  you  yet.  You 
can  imagine  what  a  jolt  you  gave  me  when  you 
came  walking  through  that  door  looking  as  big 
as  a  house.  Say,  but  I'm  glad.  Let's  go  over 
to  the  club." 

Stoddard  leaned  back  in  his  chair  and  looked 
straight  into  the  other's  face.  "Hamilton,"  he 
began  hoarsely.  "You  don't  know  how  much 
I  appreciate  your  charity  and  brotherly  greet- 
ing; but  I  would  no  more  step  my  foot  across 
the  doors  of  the  club  than  I  would  cut  it  off. 
The  boys — some  of  them — might  be  glad  to  see 
me  and  welcome  me  as  you  have  done,  although 
I  cannot  believe  it.  But  be  that  as  it  may,  I 
would  never  enter  the  doors  of  my  friends  again 
even  though  I  knew  I  was  welcome  and  free 
to  do  so.  I  came  here  on  business,  serious  busi- 
ness and  I  want  you  to  attend  to  it  for  me. 
After  that  is  done  we  will  talk  for  a  while  of 
other  things  if  you  desire,  but  not  before. 
Please  take  your  pen." 


BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS  325 

It  was  now  the  lawyer's  turn  to  be  astonished 
and  he  was,  openly  so,  and  without  effort  at 
concealment.  The  hopeless  ring  of  the  other's 
sentences  and  the  careworn  lines  that  had  sud- 
denly drawn  themselves  about  his  mouth  chilled 
his  enthusiasm  and  worried  him  not  a  little. 
"Sick?"  he  asked  anxiously. 

"About  as  sick  as  a  man  can  be — here," 
touching  his  temples,  "but  physically  I  am  as 
well  as  I  look.  Now  to  business.  You  have 
a  list  of  my  notes  and  securities  and  I  wish  you 
would  get  it." 

Almost  automatically  Hamilton  opened  the 
door  of  his  private  vault  and  drew  forth  a  tin 
box  labeled  "Stoddard"  from  which  he  took  cer- 
tain papers.  "You  want  them  all?"  he  in- 
quired. Wilson  nodded  his  assent. 

"Then  here  is  the  list.  Loan  on  Beckwith 
real  estate,  note  secured  by  first  mortgage,  fifty 
thousand;  four  and  a  half  per  cent.  Ditto  Ly- 
man-Peck  estate,  forty  thousand,  five  per  cent. 
D.  &  E.  W.  bonds,  ten  years  to  run,  four  per 
cent.,  one  hundred  thousand.  Leased  ground  in 
Parker  subdivision  drawing  five  per  cent,  on  a 


326  BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS 

forty  thousand  valuation.  That  is  all  the  mem- 
oranda I  have.  Of  course  I  don't  know  any- 
thing about  your  private  bank  account." 

"Which  is  ten  or  eleven  thousand,  and  a  few 
personal  I.  O.  U's  which  amount  to  a  couple  of 
thousand  more.  That  brings  the  total  up  to 
about  two  hundred  and  forty-three  thousand  dol- 
lars with  debts  nil.  How  much  can  I  realize  on 
those  notes  and  bonds  at  forced  sale — cash  to- 
day?" 

Hamilton  meditated.  "Par — or  a  trifle  better 
on  some  of  them  if  you  have  got  to  have  the 
money  at  once.  But  you  would  have  hard  work 
to  place  your  money  again  to  better  advantage. 
Better  think  twice  about  it,  old  man." 

"I  have  thought  about  it  not  twice  but  a  hun- 
dred times  and  it  has  got  to  be  done.  Now  I 
will  tell  you  what  I  want  you  to  do  and  you 
must  remember  that  you  are  acting  as  my  law- 
yer for  a  fee  in  this  matter  and  there  is  no  friend- 
ship in  it.  I'll  get  you  those  D.  &  E.  W.  bonds 
for  a  hundred  thousand  out  of  my  safety  de- 
posit vault  and  you  take  them  to  your  broker, 
sell  them  and  get  a  sight  draft  for  the  amount, 
payable  to  the  order  of  one  John  Findlay. 


BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS  327 

Then  I  want  to  turn  those  notes  for  ninety 
thousand  dollars  over  to  one  Barbara  Findlay 
in  her  own  name  and  right  to  be  held  in  trust 
for  her,  she  to  receive  the  interest  on  it  as  long 
as  she  lives,  but  never  the  principal.  I  will  en- 
dorse them  over  to  her  and  you  attend  to  the 
other  end  of  it.  The  remaining  money  and 
property  I  wish  to  remain  as  it  is — my  own.  I 
will  get  you  the  bonds,  and  after  you  have  ne- 
gotiated them  I  want  you  to  come  back  here  and 
draw  my  will.  I  will  wait  here  while  you  are 
gone." 

Hamilton  sank  into  a  heap  in  his  chair. 
"Wilson,  you  have  gone  crazy,"  he  gasped. 

"No.  Remember  that  you  are  merely  earn- 
ing a  professional  fee  for  carrying  out  my  wishes 
now." 

"But  you  are  only  leaving  yourself  a  fifth  of 
your  fortune — a  mere  fifty  thousand." 

"Never  mind.     It  will  be  enough." 

Like  one  in  a  daze  the  lawyer  gathered  up  the 
slips  of  paper  and  thrust  them  back  in  the  box. 
Then  abruptly  he  turned  and  stood  before  his 
caller,  clear  spoken  and  vigorous;  the  forceful 
counselor  fighting  with  his  client  for  his  client. 


328  BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS 

"Wilson,  I  am  now  speaking  to  you  as  your 
paid  attorney  and  with  no  friendship  in  it.  You 
come  to  me  and  ask  me  to  do  certain  things  which 
seem  to  me  to  be  prejudicial  to  your  interests 
and  without  enlightening  me  as  to  why  you  do 
them.  As  your  attorney,  hired  to  protect  your 
interests,  I  refuse  to  sacrifice  you  until  I  become 
satisfied  that  it  is  the  proper  course  for  me  to 
pursue.  And  the  only  way  you  can  satisfy  me 
is  to  tell  me  the  facts.  No  man  can  retain  my 
services  until  I  know  the  facts  of  the  case — at 
least  his  version  of  them.  I'll  not  work  in  the 
dark  for  any  man  nor  for  any  fee.  Now  out 
with  it  or  go  elsewhere  for  a  lawyer.  Why  are 
you  doing  this?" 

"Because  I  wish  to." 

"Why  the  will?  Are  you  going  to  commit 
suicide?" 

"Physically,  no.     Socially,  yes." 

"What  do  you  mean  by  that?  Out  with  it 
now  and  tell  me  what  it  all  means."  Stoddard 
leaped  from  his  chair  and  paced  the  floor  with 
set  jaws  and  hands  clenched;  then  burst  forth 
bitterly. 

"Mean!     I'll   tell   you    what   it   means    fast 


BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS  329 

enough.  It  means  that  I  met  a  man  in  the  wild- 
ness  who  was  a  father  to  me;  who  lost  all  he 
possessed  through  a  great  calamity  and  whom  I 
am  going  to  put  upon  his  feet  again  with  a  part 
of  my  useless  fortune.  It  means  that  I  met  a 
woman  there  also,  an  honest,  true-hearted  woman 
whom  I  love  better  than  I  do  my  own  life — a 
woman  whom  I  unintentionally  wronged  and 
whom  I  am  going  to  keep  from  toil  and  physical 
want  as  long  as  she  lives  with  more  of  this  money 
of  mine  that  I  can  never  use.  And  it  means  that 
when  I  have  done  those  things  I  am  going  to  the 
police,  surrender  myself  for  the  killing  of  Gray- 
ford  and  bear  my  punishment  with  what  forti- 
tude I  possess.  Now  do  you  understand,  friend 
Hamilton?" 

The  lawyer  sat  down  weakly.  "I  knew  you 
were  crazy  all  the  while,"  he  murmured  as  the 
other  man  gloomed  down  upon  him.  "Do  you 
really  think  you  killed  Grayford?"  With  the 
leap  of  a  cat  Stoddard  was  close  over  him. 

"None  of  that,  Hamilton.  I  did  not  come 
here  to  be  mocked  or  jested  with.  If  it  was  not 
for  what  I  have  suffered  in  the  past,  and  must 
suffer  in  the  future  because  of  a  blow  which  I 


330  BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS 

once  struck,  I  would  be  tempted  to  lay  hands 
upon  you  now.  But  I  shall  never  strike  another 
man  except  in  the  defense  of  myself  or  mine  own, 
for  no  one  but  the  Almighty  and  myself  know 
the  penalty  I  have  paid  for  my  quick  temper. 
And  my  punishment  is  only  beginning."  Feebly 
the  lawyer  sought  to  push  the  speaker  away. 

"But  you  did  not  kill  him,"  he  protested. 
Stoddard's  face  grew  still  darker. 

"Explain  that,  Hamilton.  I  am  sick  and 
tired  of  your  attitude  towards  me.  Come  out 
like  a  man  and  tell  me  what  you  are  driving  at. 
Not  five  minutes  ago  you  said  that  I  did  kill 
him." 

"I  said  nothing  of  the  kind.  I  said,  'since 
Grayford's  death  we  feared  for  you.' '  Hamil- 
ton sat  bolt  upright  once  more,  dim  understand- 
ing beginning  to  percolate  his  brain;  and  true  to 
his  legal  instinct  started  to  cross  question  the 
strange  man  before  him.  Half  a  dozen  incisive 
questions  and  quick  answers  cleared  away  the 
mystery. 

"You  have  been  in  the  wilderness.  What 
newspapers  have  you  read  since  you  entered 
it?" 


BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS  331 

"None  at  all.  I  did  not  wish  to  know  the  de- 
tails." 

"When  was  the  last  time  you  read  the  papers?" 

"The  day  I  left." 

"When  was  that?" 

"The  very  day  of  the  killing." 

"Has  anyone  who  knew  the  facts  communi- 
cated with  you  since  then?" 

"No." 

A  long  breath  of  understanding  came  from  the 
questioner's  lips  and  he  relaxed  a  little,  a  grave 
half-smile  upon  his  face.  Stoddard,  erect  and 
tense,  heard  the  sigh  uncomprehendingly.  The 
lawyer's  voice  became  lulled  to  the  plain  matter 
of  fact. 

"Now  sit  quietly  and  keep  cool.  Solitude  has 
its  advantages,  and  in  certain  ways  it  has  worked 
wonders  with  you.  But  on  the  other  hand  it  has 
kept  you  grossly  ignorant ;  caused  you  much  use- 
less suffering  and  hounded  you  to  the  brink  of 
despair.  Had  you  read  the  papers  one  day 
longer,  you  would  have  known  that  you  no  more 
killed  Grayford  than  I  did.  His  death  was  en- 
tirely due  to  natural  causes." 

"What!"  whispered  the  other.     He  could  say 


332  BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS 

no  more,  but  with  staring  eyes  sat  wetting  his 
dry  lips  with  his  dry  tongue.  Calmly  Hamilton 
went  on. 

"Your  blow  made  a  scalp  wound  which  bled 
quite  freely,  and  Grayford  fell  as  it  landed  and 
died  immediately.  Those  who  were  gathered 
around  and  who  saw  it  all,  being  laymen  and  not 
medical  men,  most  naturally  attributed  his  death 
to  the  blow,  as  you  did  yourself  and  as  I  would 
have  done  had  I  been  present.  When  you  fled 
someone  called  for  the  police  who  came  post 
haste,  and  they,  being  laymen  as  well,  called  it 
murder,  sent  Grayford  to  a  morgue  and  turned 
the  detective  force  loose  after  you.  Of  course 
a  lot  of  newspaper  police  reporters  were  hanging 
on  to  the  patrol  wagon  when  it  came,  and  within 
an  hour  extras  containing  an  account  of  the  af- 
fair were  scattered  throughout  the  city  describing 
the  occurrence  and  accusing  you.  One  of  those 
happened  to  be  the  last  paper  you  read.  But 
the  surgeons  who  performed  the  autopsy  soon 
got  at  the  facts  of  the  case.  A  coroner's  jury 
was  empaneled  immediately  and  it  was  ascer- 
tained beyond  all  possible  doubt  that  Grayford 
had  died  of  apoplexy,  superinduced  by  his  mode 


BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS  383 

of  living  and  the  rage  that  he  had  fallen  into 
because  of  his  hatred  of  you.  Your  blow  caused 
but  a  slight  scalp  wound  and  would  not  even 
have  staggered  him  had  it  not  been  his  time  to 
die.  The  coroner's  jury  completely  exonerated 
you,  and  that  very  night  the  detectives  were  called 
in  and  search  for  you  was  abandoned.  You 
were  then  in  hiding." 

The  lips  of  the  listener  moved  but  no  sound 
came  from  them  and  Hamilton  slowly  finished. 

"The  next  morning  the  papers  were  filled  with 
the  case,  telling  how  Grayford  had  persecuted 
and  maligned  you,  even  rising  as  if  to  strike  you, 
and  how  you  maddened  by  his  long-continued 
attacks  and  slanders  had  thrown  the  match  re- 
ceiver at  him,  and  seeing  him  fall  and  die  had 
fled.  It  was  a  complete  vindication  of  you  other 
than  of  an  assault  under  conditions  that  would 
arouse  any  man's  fighting  blood.  Regret  was 
Grayford's  portion,  sympathy  yours.  Then,  of 
course,  we  expected  you  to  come  forth,  but  as  the 
months  went  by  and  you  did  not  do  so  we  became 
alarmed.  At  first  we  attributed  your  seclusion 
to  a  humiliation  that  would  eventually  wear  away 
and  permit  you  to  come  back  to  us;  later  on  we 


334,  BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS 

took  a  graver  view.  We  made  inquiries  every- 
where we  could  imagine  that  you  might  be,  but 
you  apparently  had  blotted  yourself  from  exist- 
ence and  we  were  forced  to  give  you  up — here 
there!  What's  the  matter  of  you?" 

Wilson's  head  had  sunk  gradually  forward 
upon  his  breast  and  he  now  sat  in  his  chair  in 
a  motionless,  tenseless  heap.  Hamilton  leaping 
up  raised  his  head  and  looked  into  the  half -closed 
eyes.  For  the  only  time  in  his  life  Wilson  Stod- 
dard  had  fainted. 

A  dash  of  water  in  the  face  and  the  lids  un- 
closed and  Stoddard  sat  up  blinking  a  trifle 
dizzily  at  his  friend.  "Say  that  all  over  again, 
Ed,"  he  whispered.  The  lawyer  smiled. 

"It  would  take  too  long,  but  I  will  give  it  to 
you  in  pill  form  for  your  mental  stomach  to  di- 
gest. You  did  not  hurt  Grayford  beyond  a 
scratch.  His  death  was  due  to  the  anger  he 
worked  himself  into  because  of  his  dislike  of  you. 
You  wrere  exonerated  by  the  law  and  by  the 
public  which  said  that  Grayford  got — so  far  as 
you  were  concerned — no  more  than  he  deserved, 
though  of  course  everybody  regretted  his  death. 
Got  that  digested?" 


BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS  335 

Stoddard  nodded. 

"Then  how  about  the  giving  away  of  your  for- 
tune? Does  that  still  apply?" 

"No.  The  complexion  of  the  world  has 
changed  while  I  slept.  You  need  not  trouble 
yourself  about  those  bonds  and  mortgages.  You 
have  earned  your  fee  in  a  different  way." 

"Feel  all  right  now?" 

"Better  than  ever  before  in  my  life." 

"Then  come  over  to  the  club." 

Stoddard  shook  his  head  decisively.  "No,  old 
man.  What  I  said  about  the  portals  of  my 
friends  in  this  town  I  shall  stick  to.  While  fate 
has  been  more  than  kind  to  me,  I  still  feel  that 
I  would  not  care  to  again  meet  the  old  crowd. 
Give  them  my  love,  Ed.  They  will  understand." 

Hamilton  meditated  as  he  lighted  a  cigar. 
"Don't  know  but  you  are  right,"  he  returned 
presently.  "They  would  be  awfully  glad  to  see 
you  and  would  welcome  you  with  open  arms,  but 
I  can  imagine  how  you  feel  about  it.  Lunch 
with  me  privately  then." 

But  Stoddard  was  on  his  feet  with  his  hand 
extended.  "Not  to-day,  my  boy.  I'm  going  to 
leave  within  an  hour — quick  as  I  can  get  that 


336  BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS 

eleven  thousand  out  of  the  bank.  The  fact  is  I 
have  grown  to  love  that  bright-sky  land  better 
than  I  ever  liked  the  soot  and  smoke  of  this 
big  town.  It  has  made  a  man  of  me  physically 
and  taught  me  that  steady,  intelligent  labor  is 
the  panacea  for  most  of  the  ills  that  we  are  heir 
to.  I  like  the  country  and  I  like  the  business 
and  I  am  going  into  it  with  a  partner  who  knows 
it  as  you  know  pleadings  and  practice.  I've  got 
the  money,  he's  got  the  experience  and  between 
us  we'll  get  out  of  it  all  there  is  in  it.  Of  course 
I  am  not  saying  that  I  won't  take  occasional 
flyers  to  the  big  town,  and  one  of  these  days  I'll 
give  you  a  blowout — but  no  wine." 

"And  you  are  off  at  once?" 

"At  once.  You  will  hear  from  me  within  a 
week  or  so.  Good  luck,  old  boy,  and  sorry  to 
leave  you  but  something  very  pressing  hurries 
me  away." 

"And  her  name  is  Barbara,"  smiled  the  lawyer 
man  astutely. 

Stoddard  returned  the  smile  from  the  threshold 
of  the  door.  "And  her  name  is  Barbara,  Ed." 


CHAPTER  XX 

BACK  in  Phoenix  late  in  the  evening  of  the  sec- 
ond day  thereafter,  Stoddard  sought  the  little 
boarding  house  immediately  upon  his  dismount- 
ing from  the  train.  At  the  door  he  was  in- 
formed that  Miss  Barbara  was  not  well — had 
not  been  for  several  days — and  had  retired  an 
hour  before.  Mr.  Findlay  was  somewhere  about 
the  town.  So  Wilson  tramped  off  in  search  of 
him. 

The  sawdust  streets  were  dimly  lighted  by 
kerosene  lamps  perched  upon  short  poles  and 
the  few  business  houses  were  closed  and  dark, 
but  from  the  open  doors  of  a  dozen  saloons  yel- 
low light  and  more  or  less  discordant  sounds  were 
bursting.  To  the  short  end  of  the  sprawling 
business  district  he  wandered,  then  back  again 
without  having  encountered  the  sinewy  form  of 
the  man  for  whom  he  searched.  He  halted  in 
front  of  a  saloon  from  which  came  the  twang  of 
a  banjo  and  the  thump  of  boots  as  a  deep-voiced 

337 


388  BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS 

Scandinavian  dancer  shuffled  and  droned  to  the 
roared  chorus  of  "Jill-poke." 

"Aye  tank  Aye  ride  on  a  yill-poke  log, 
Yill-poke,  yill-poke. 

Aye  yump  for  hay  neck  with  a  yump  like  a  frog, 
Yill-poke,  yill-poke. 
Aye  ride  heem  hellupsy,  larrupsy  down, 
Aye  fall  in  the  water  an'  Aye  mostsome  drown. 
Aye  shouldsome,  mostsome,  liefsome  die, 
Pike-areel  laf '  till  he  nearsome  cry, 
YILL-POKE,  YILL-POKE." 

As  the  thunder  of  heels  and  voices  ceased  the 
listener  turned  towards  the  door  and  stepped 
within.  He  well  knew  that  Findlay  seldom  fre- 
quented saloons  except  when  business  or  policy 
led  him  there,  but  having  searched  the  streets 
for  him  in  vain  and  knowing  not  where  else  to 
look  at  this  late  hour,  he  entered  the  place  with 
the  faint  hope  that  the  logger  might  have  stepped 
within  to  pass  a  few  moments  among  the  men, 
many  of  whom  had  worked  with  and  under  him 
in  snow  and  flood  for  a  score  of  years  gone  by. 
The  bar  was  a  roughly-knocked-together  pine 


BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS  339 

affair  backed  by  a  mottled  mirror  and  a  few 
dozen  tumblers  and  glasses,  the  floor  thinly 
sprinkled  with  sawdust,  while  in  their  chairs  a 
dozen  woodsmen  were  drinking  and  roaring 
through  the  fog  of  tobacco  smoke  that  hung  from 
ceiling  to  floor  in  an  eddying  mist.  Much  to  the 
incomer's  surprise  the  dancer  and  imitator  was 
the  giant  Cardiff. 

With  a  last  pawing  step  that  sent  a  spout  of 
sawdust  over  the  nearest  onlookers  the  walking 
boss  of  the  Badger  Company  quieted  his  feet 
and  turned  towards  the  one  who  had  just  en- 
tered. His  face  was  aflame,  his  sullen,  passion- 
marked  mouth  drooping  and  brutal  from  whisky. 
With  no  sign  that  he  recognized  Stoddard  he 
waved  the  sitters  forward  with  a  sweep  of  his 
arm  and  commanded  that  all  present  drink  with 
him,  seizing  the  bar  in  his  great  fingers  and  shak- 
ing it  until  it  rattled  like  a  dice  box  as  he 
cursed  their  slowness  in  accepting  his  invitation. 
To  cross  Cardiff  in  his  sober  moments  was  bad 
enough,  but  to  anger  him  while  on  a  drunk  was 
like  crossing  a  lion  in  his  amours.  And  the  men, 
ready  as  they  were  to  drink  at  anybody's  expense 
save  their  own,  feared  their  towering  host  and 


340  BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS 

shrunk  as  far  as  possible  beyond  the  radius  of 
his  arms.  Findlay  was  not  among  them,  and 
hesitating  but  long  enough  to  make  sure  of  this 
fact  Stoddard  started  for  the  door.  With  a 
bound  Cardiff  was  upon  him,  one  hand  hooked 
deep  in  his  collar. 

"I  said  everybody  take  a  drink  with  me.  Do 
you  hear?"  he  roared  as  he  dragged  his  captive 
partially  resisting  to  the  center  of  the  bar. 
Deeply  resenting  this  rough  handling  from  one 
whom  he  knew  hated  him  and  but  sought  a  quar- 
rel, Wilson  nevertheless  made  passionless  an- 
swer. 

"I  am  not  drinking  to-night,  Mr.  Cardiff. 
Thank  you,  and  please  let  go  of  me." 

The  red  shot  eyes  of  the  great  man  narrowed 
wickedly  and  the  clutch  tightened.  "Think  you 
are  too  good  to  drink  with  a  common  walking 
boss?"  he  demanded  as  he  swung  the  other 
around  so  that  his  whisky-sodden  breath  was  foul 
to  Stoddard's  nose.  That  latter's  head  shook  a 
negative. 

"Then  prove  it.     What  will  you  have?" 

"I  will  drink  a  bottle  of  pop." 

"Pap,  you  mean,"  sneared  Cardiff,  bringing 


BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS  341 

the  huge  fist  of  his  free  arm  thunderously  upon 
the  board.  "You,  pretending  to  be  a  man  and 
a  lumber  jack  and  drinking  pap!"  An  uproar- 
ious howling  laugh  arose  from  the  hearers,  but 
Stoddard  swallowing  the  hot  retort  that  burned 
on  the  tip  of  his  tongue  remained  impassive. 

"It  will  be  pop  or  nothing.  Please  let  me 
loose."  The  flush  of  Cardiff's  cheeks  grew 
deeper. 

"By  God  it  will  be  whisky  and  plenty  of  it. 
Drink  that,"  he  snarled  as  he  thrust  his  own 
brimming  glass  of  cheap  liquor  before  the  other's 
face.  And  at  the  sight  and  smell  of  his  great 
enemy  of  the  past  now  once  more  at  his  very 
lips,  the  indignation  that  had  glowed  within  him 
at  the  bullyings  of  the  man  that  held  him  burst 
into  a  great  blaze  of  anger.  With  the  quickness 
of  the  strike  of  a  serpent  he  raised  his  hand  and 
brought  it  down  edgewise  with  all  his  force  upon 
Cardiff's  elbow,  and  as  the  smitten  muscles 
doubled  up  beneath  the  blow  he  wrenched  himself 
free  and  leaped  backward  to  the  middle  of  the 
floor.  Bellowing  with  rage  and  the  pain  of  the 
blow  Cardiff  came  at  him. 

"By  the  Eternal,  I'll  twist  your  neck  for  that," 


342  BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS 

he  swore.  But  the  saloon  man  was  between 
them  in  an  instant,  a  blazing  kerosene  lamp  in 
his  hand. 

"If  you  want  to  fight,  get  out  in  front  and  go 
to  it,  but  you  can't  start  anything  in  here.  The 
first  one  that  let's  go  another  lick  in  this  place 
will  get  this  lamp  busted  over  his  head,  fire,  glass, 
oil  and  all — if  the  whole  shebang  goes  to  glory 
because  of  it,"  he  yelled.  And  as  the  walking 
boss  paused  knowing  full  well  that  Red  Hicks 
would  carry  out  his  threat,  the  pack  behind  him 
burst  into  full  cry  demanding  that  the  pair  go 
without  and  settle  it  man  to  man  in  fair  battle. 
For  though  your  woodsman  will  hit  below  the 
belt,  bite,  gouge  and  kick  with  spike-armed 
shoes,  yet  he  does  not  complain  if  his  brother  at 
arms  does  likewise  unto  him,  and  man  to  man  is 
his  motto.  In  a  swirling  mass  they  crowded 
through  the  door,  Cardiff  with  bull-like  bellow- 
ings  as  he  hurled  coat  and  hat  far  to  one  side. 
And  as  they  reached  the  sawTdust-carpeted  street 
Stoddard,  knowing  well  the  folly  of  it,  made  his 
last  peace  offering  as  the  voices  lulled. 

"I  have  no  quarrel  with  you,  Cardiff.  All  I 
wish  is  to  be  left  in  peace." 


BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS  343 

"And  all  I  wish  is  to  leave  you  in  pieces,"  was 
the  savage  response.  Forearmed  with  a  knowl- 
edge of  the  bitterness  of  the  struggle  to  come, 
Wilson  cast  his  coat  aside  and  stood  balanced 
easily  as  his  enemy  stripped  off  his  tightly  fitting 
sweater. 

From  the  nearby  saloons  attracted  by  the  up- 
roar men  came  swarming  until  a  solid,  eager- 
eyed  throng  had  formed  itself  into  an  irregular 
circle  about  the  enemies.  From  either  side  of 
the  street  sputtering  oil  lamps  cast  a  mottled 
film  of  light  upon  the  sawdust  arena.  Fairly  in 
its  center  stood  Stoddard,  strong  of  feature, 
powerful  and  active;  the  typical  heavyweight 
athlete ;  in  one  corner  his  huge  enemy  who  cursed 
him  as  he  tore  at  the  clinging  sweater.  On  all 
sides  uncouth  figures  whispered  to  each  other  as 
they  shifted  from  side  to  side  that  they  might 
gain  a  position  of  better  vantage.  And  now  im- 
patient for  the  battle  to  begin,  knowing  that  he 
must  fight,  Wilson  vowed  that  should  the  oppor- 
tunity come  to  him  to  strike  home  he  would  not 
forget  that  this  was  the  man  who  in  his  devilish 
jealousy  and  rage  had  left  Barbara  Findlay  un- 
warned in  the  path  of  the  fire.  The  bare  thought 


344  BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS 

of  the  murderous  brutality  of  that  act  hardened 
and  tempered  him  as  cold  water  hardens  and 
tempers  red  hot  iron. 

From  his  corner  of  the  ring  Cardiff  stripped 
to  his  trousers  and  undershirt  came  stalking, 
Herculean  of  chest  and  shoulders,  his  head  held 
high  and  his  fists  close  before  him  after  the  rough 
and  ready  fashion  of  the  untaught  natural  fighter 
who  knows  not  whether  his  first  move  will  be  to 
strike  or  grapple.  Stoddard,  as  the  best  all 
around  athlete  of  his  great  university  had  re- 
ceived years  of  tuition  from  the  ablest  ex-masters 
of  the  prize  ring,  and  his  boxing  skill  was  little 
short  of  the  professional  standard.  And  now  to 
mislead  his  enemy  by  covering  his  science  be- 
neath a  cloak  of  awkwardness  became  his  plan, 
and  he  shuffled  cautiously  about  with  arms  hang- 
ing limp  as  ropes.  Full  within  reach  of  Car- 
diff's arms  he  put  himself,  and  the  giant  swung 
his  right  fist  first  in  a  terrific  semi-circle,  the 
force  of  the  blow  well-nigh  whirling  him  from 
his  feet.  To  his  amazement  he  hit  but  thin  air; 
yet  his  foe  still  standing  before  him  in  the  loose 
attitude  of  a  disjointed  man  had  not  moved  from 


BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS  345 

his  track's.  The  lightning-like  duck  of  Wilson's 
head  had  left  him  untouched. 

With  a  mutter  of  fresh  rage  Cardiff  advanced 
again.  He  came  more  cautiously  now,  feeling 
his  way  with  his  feet  as  he  sought  to  come  within 
striking  distance,  but  the  other  slowy  retreating 
maintained  his  distance  almost  to  a  hair.  Again 
finding  himself  within  range  Cardiff  loosed  his 
fist,  and  again  Stoddard's  head  seemed  to  vanish 
as  the  blow  cleaved  the  space  it  had  occupied  but 
the  fraction  of  a  second  before.  A  low,  long 
drawn  "Ah-h,"  came  from  the  circle,  and  Wilson 
became  conscious  of  a  commotion  at  the  edge  of 
the  crowd  as  somebody  forced  his  way  through 
to  the  innermost  edge.  Then  a  well-known 
voice  rang  clear  in  the  silence. 

"Take  care  of  yourself,  boy.  I'm  here,  and 
there  will  be  no  dirty  work  as  long  as  John 
Findlay  can  keep  on  his  legs.  Look  out — he's 
coming."  With  a  deceptively  swift  sidestep 
Wilson  was  far  to  one  side. 

Twice  more  the  big  woodsman  lunged  at  his 
shadowy  foe,  freeing  blows  that  fairly  landed 
would  have  dropped  any  man  on  earth,  each  time 


346  BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS 

missing  the  loosely  hung  figure  by  a  few  scant 
inches  and  wrenching  his  muscles  from  the  very 
violence  of  the  unstopped  swings.  And  as  the 
last  attempt  hit  but  unresisting  air,  a  sharp  yelp 
of  derision  arose  from  somewhere  in  the  crowd, 
and  under  that  wordless  taunt  the  rage  of  the 
attacking  one  grew  into  the  unreasoning  fury  of 
a  bull  who  closes  his  eyes  and  charges  blindly. 
Head  held  low  and  right  fist  drawn  back  for  a 
far-reaching  swing  that  would  reach  this  elusive 
enemy  of  his  who  would  not  fight  but  ever  re- 
treated crab-like  as  he  advanced,  Cardiff  rushed. 
Then  the  unexpected  happened. 

Like  the  snap  of  a  whip  the  loose- jointed 
figure  grew  rigid  and  instead  of  a  backward  leap 
there  was  a  swift  step  forward  and  a  hard  fist 
at  the  end  of  a  stiffened  arm  met  the  oncomer  in 
the  middle  of  his  rush,  the  whole  weight  of  a 
heavy  body  back  of  it.  And  Cardiff,  stopped 
in  his  tracks  as  though  he  had  run  against  a 
wall,  wheeled  and  dropped  in  a  heap.  From  the 
audience  there  arose  a  yell  of  applause,  sharp 
and  explosive,  followed  by  a  silence  that  was 
only  broken  by  the  ringing  voice  of  Findlay  as 
he  uttered  terse  sentences  of  encouragement. 


BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS  317 

Stepping  to  the  far  side  of  the  ring  Stoddard 
stood  at  rest  again  as  his  enemy,  dazed  and  bleed- 
ing staggered  to  his  feet.  Then  he  cautiously 
advanced. 

Befuddled  of  brain  by  the  terrific  jar  of  the 
blow  and  the  fumes  of  the  whisky,  and  having 
learned  a  great  lesson  at  great  cost,  the  giant's 
recklessness  vanished  and  wariness  took  its 
place.  Instead  of  rushing  blindly  he  began  to 
spar  at  arm's  length,  only  quickly  to  learn  that 
at  this,  the  real  science  of  the  game,  he  was  ab- 
solutely at  his  opponent's  mercy.  For  Wilson, 
working  with  baffling  ease  about  him,  with  light- 
ning feints  and  puzzling  sidesteps  stung  him 
with  snapping  left  hand  blows  that  dazed  and 
blinded  him,  until  rage  at  his  impotence  once 
more  overcame  him  and  he  again  leaped  forward. 
And  the  other,  attempting  to  spring  aside, 
slipped  upon  the  greasy  under  side  of  a  strip  of 
bark  and  went  down  upon  his  hands  and  knees. 
The  next  instant  Cardiff's  boot  landing  terrific- 
ally against  his  ribs  bowled  him  flat  upon  his 
back  where  he  lay  gasping  for  breath  and  with  a 
sharp  pain  stabbing  him  through  the  body  like 
the  thrust  of  a  sword.  And  at  that  act  of 


348  BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS 

cowardice  towards  an  enemy  who  had  turned  his 
back  upon  him  when  he  was  down,  jeers  and 
hisses  fell  upon  Cardiff's  head,  and  Findlay  rag- 
ing like  a  lion  in  the  grasp  of  half  a  dozen  men 
would  have  beaten  them  off  despite  their  num- 
bers and  hurled  himself  upon  the  giant  had  not 
the  latter  realized  that  the  anger  of  the  crowd 
was  upon  him  and  walked  sullenly  to  the  oppo- 
site side  of  the  ring.  For  half  a  dozen  seconds 
Stoddard  lay  gasping,  and  then  with  the  sharp- 
ness of  the  pain  gone  and  a  throbbing  ache  in  its 
place  he  got  upon  his  feet. 

Desperate  though  he  was,  he  was  deadly  calm 
now.  He  had  to  be,  for  the  quickness  had  been 
kicked  out  of  him  and  sudden  movements  caused 
him  almost  unendurable  pain.  He  could  no 
longer  evade  his  foe,  nor  on  the  other  hand  could 
he  compete  with  him  in  brute  strength.  Sup- 
erior skill  alone  was  in  his  favor.  Yet  what  he 
was  to  do  he  must  do  quickly  and  with  all  his 
remaining  strength,  trusting  to  luck  to  its  being 
decisive.  As  Cardiff  came  forward  to  meet  him 
Wilson  noted  the  position  of  his  arms,  decided 
upon  his  course  and  took  it  instantly. 


BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS  349 

Fairly  within  reach  of  the  other's  right  arm 
he  placed  himself  as  he  courted  a  blow  that  should 
it  land  would  leave  him  senseless  upon  the 
ground;  saw  the  great  fist  leap  forward,  and 
slipping  his  head  to  one  side  threw  his  left  leg 
back  of  his  foe's  heels  and  his  left  arm  across  his 
throat.  It  was  the  deadly  "back  heel"  of  the 
olden  time  prize  ring,  and  properly  executed  no 
man  could  withstand  it.  With  his  leg  for  the 
trip  and  his  arm  for  the  backward  throw  he 
launched  his  full  strength,  and  Cardiff's  feet 
flying  up  and  his  head  flying  down  he  landed 
with  a  crash  upon  his  back,  the  full  weight  of 
Stoddard's  body  coming  down  upon  him.  A 
sharp  explosion  of  breath  came  from  the  under 
man's  lips  and  he  did  not  move  as  the  other  re- 
gained his  feet.  For  ten  seconds — twenty — a 
full  half  minute  he  lay  motionless  and  pale,  then 
slowly  struggled  to  arise.  Silently  three  of  his 
friends  raised  him  and  carried  him  within  the 
saloon,  bewildered  and  shaken  to  the  marrow  of 
Lis  bones,  while  the  remainder  of  the  crowd  urged 
forward  by  that  fierce  instinct  that  makes  man 
and  brute  pay  homage  to  the  victor  of  bloody 


350  BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS 

battles  surged  around  the  conquerer  as  they; 
smote  him  upon  the  back  with  wild  shoutings. 
Through  the  mob  Findlay  led  him,  bent  forward 
somewhat  at  the  hips  and  suffering  acutely,  to 
the  quiet  of  the  nearest  cheap  hostelry. 


CHAPTER  XXI 

ONE  of  Stoddard's  ribs  was  broken,  but  out- 
side of  considerable  pain  and  stiffness  to  be  en- 
dured for  a  few  weeks  there  was  nothing  to  be 
dreaded.  Findlay  sat  beside  him  that  night 
while  a  physician  did  all  that  could  be  done,  and 
after  the  departure  of  the  medicine  man  he  still 
remained  in  his  chair  by  the  bedside  as  he  puffed 
at  his  pipe.  "Hurt  you  to  talk?"  he  inquired 
after  fifteen  minutes  of  silence.  The  one  in  the 
bed  replied  that  it  did  not  provided  he  talked 
slowly  and  between  breaths.  So  Findlay  got 
down  to  business. 

"I  had  been  over  to  the  house  of  a  friend  of 
mine — Ex- judge  Collins — for  an  evening's  visit 
and  was  coming  home  when  I  saw  the  crowd  and 
knew  there  was  a  fight  on.  I  asked  somebody 
who  were  swapping  licks  and  was  told  that  it  was 
Cardiff  and  you.  Well,  I  was  surprised. 
Thought  you  had  gone  for  good  and  had  imag- 
ined you  were  a  thousand  miles  away.  At  first 

351 


352  BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS 

I  thought  he  must  be  mistaken,  then  I  got  a  peep 
of  you  against  the  light  and  knew  that  his  talk 
was  the  straight  goods.  I  bucked  and  kicked 
my  way  through,  for  after  the  way  Cardiff  left 
you  and  Barbara  for  the  fire  to  eat  up  I  didn't 
know  but  he  might  do  you  some  dirt  and  I 
wanted  to  be  there  to  rub  his  nose  in  it  in  case  he 
did.  Also,  I  wanted  to  see  him  licked  to  a 
frazzle,  and  if  he  had  got  the  better  of  you 
he'd  had  to  whale  me  in  the  same  ring.  You 
just  wait  until  the  news  of  how  he  cut  out  from 
Archer  without  telling  anyone  that  he  had  got 
wind  of  the  fire  gets  around  and  see  what  hap- 
pens to  him!  They'll  ride  him  out  of  the 
country  on  a  rail  sure  as  taxes  unless  he  gets 
wise  and  beats  them  out.  I  told  Meyer  about 
it  the  other  day,  and  what  do  you  suppose  the 
old  skinflint  did?  Took  down  his  shotgun  and 
told  Cardiff  if  he  ever  showed  his  nose  around 
the  place  again  he'll  fill  him  full  of  birdshot. 
That's  the  reason  Cardiff  got  on  a  drunk — be- 
cause he  lost  his  job.  Old  Meyer  surprised  me. 
I  didn't  suppose  he  had  a  human  instinct  in  him. 
Say,  what  brought  you  back  so  soon?  More  bad 
luck?" 


BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS  353 

"No.  As  great  good  fortune  as  fate  ever 
showed  a  man.  The  trouble  I  spoke  to  you 
about  is  all  over  and  I  am  a  free  man  again." 

"Free !"  Findlay  removed  his  pipe  and  looked 
questioningly  at  the  speaker.  "Now  do  you 
know  I  never  noticed  a  ball  and  chain  hitched  to 
you.  It  never  occurred  to  me  before  that  you 
had  been  a  prisoner." 

The  patient  smiled.  "Morally  and  mentally 
free  I  mean.  Of  course  in  a  physical  sense  I 
have  had  a  restricted  amount  of  liberty." 

The  logger  thrust  his  pipe  back  into  a  corner 
of  his  mouth  and  twisted  a  bit  in  the  chair.  "I 
ain't  especially  curious  as  a  general  rule — Bar- 
bara's got  my  share  of  that — but  I'll  be  blazed  if 
this  minute  I  don't  feel  like  a  human  question 
mark.  And  it's  all  because  you  are  so  infernally 
mysterious  about  it.  Time  come  for  you  to  tell 

yet?" 

Stoddard  painfully  turned  himself  over  until 
he  faced  the  speaker  and  began.  Slowly  but  un- 
sparingly he  went  over  his  life  from  its  beginning 
to  the  hour  of  the  fight,  omitting  only  the  in- 
cident of  the  intended  transferring  of  his  for- 
tune, while  the  listener  with  his  pipe  held  dead 


354  BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS 

and  smokeless  between  his  lips  listened  like  a 
man  carved  from  wood.  But  when  the  narrator 
had  finished  and  turned  upon  his  back  again  the 
wooden  man  became  flesh  and  blood  once  more. 

"Boy,"  said  he  gravely,  "I  have  listened  to 
your  every  word  and  tried  to  give  each  act  you 
related  its  proper  significance  as  you  went  along. 
I  think  I  understand  you.  I  have  no  criticism 
to  make  of  your  life  except  those  things  that 
arose  directly  from  the  drink  curse.  But  that 
vice  you  have  conquered  and  I  know  you  have 
manhood  enough  to  remain  a  teetotaler  to  the 
last  day  of  your  life.  As  far  as  my  respect  for 
and  confidence  in  you  are  concerned,  neither  has 
altered  one  whit  since  I  saw  you  last.  And  here 
is  my  hand  on  that.  But  now  that  your  mind 
is  free  again  and  your  future  at  your  disposal, 
I  want  to  know  what  brought  you  back  so  soon 
to  these  woods.  Now  you  answer  that." 

"One  reason  is  this.  As  I  told  you  once  be- 
fore I  have  grown  to  like  them  and  have  an  idea 
I  would  like  to  be  a  successful  lumberman. 
The  business  offers  as  good  opportunities  and  as 
many  rewards  as  any  other,  and  it  is  the  only 
occupation  that  I  have  even  partly  mastered. 


BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS  355 

Now  if  I  could  only  find  a  partner  whom  I  could 
trust,  a  wise  old  head  to  advise  and  teach  me,  I 
would  buy  up  that  big  tract  of  pine  over  on  the 
Moose  and  start  in  on  a  liberal  scale  next  fall. 
Have  you  got  such  a  party  in  mind?" 

"There's  Kelly,"  suggested  the  other  thought- 
fully. "First  rate  business  man,  square,  all 
kinds  of  experience — made  a  fortune  out  of  the 
business  and  got  busted  playing  the  board  of 
trade.  But  he  has  quit  speculating  and  is  at- 
tending strictly  to  his  knitting — making  money 
too,  but  a  little  cramped  for  capital.  He  might 
let  you  in." 

"How  about  yourself,  Mr.  Findlay,"  inter- 
jected Wilson  with  a  quiet  smile. 

"Hey!" 

"How  about  yourself?  I  think  we  could  pull 
together." 

The  gray  head  of  the  elder  man  sank  slowly 
into  his  palms  and  by  the  night  lamp  the  patient 
saw  two  big  tears  roll  from  under  them  down  the 
tanned  cheeks.  The  next  instant,  however, 
Findlay  had  whisked  them  impatiently  aside. 

"We  won't  speak  about  that  to-night,  boy- 
there  will  be  plenty  of  time  when  you  are  con- 


356  BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS 

valescing  to  talk  matters  over.  Take  my  word 
for  it  when  I  say  I  thank  you  from  the  bottom 
of  my  heart  for  your  confidence  and  offer.  And 
I'll  not  deny  that  at  first  thought  it  tempts  me 
sorely,  for  I've  been  in  the  harness  so  long  as  a 
jobber  and  owner  that  it  is  a  bitter  pill  to  think 
of  going  back  to  work  by  the  day  as  I  did  thirty 
years  ago.  But  beyond  all  other  reasons,  I  want 
to  get  into  business  and  make  money  again  for 
my  daughter's  sake." 

"Which  leads  up  to  the  strongest  reason  I  had 
for  returning  in  such  haste.  I  love  Barbara  and 
I  want  to  ask  her  to  marry  me.  With  your  con- 
sent I  am  going  to  do  so." 

For  the  second  time  that  night  the  gray  head 
was  bowed,  and  through  a  hundred  tickings  of 
the  clock  both  men  were  lost  in  thought.  Find- 
lay  arose.  "I  guess  I'll  let  you  and  her  fight 
that  out  between  yourselves.  'Fraid  to  get 
mixed  up  in  it.  Sleepy?" 

"Not  in  the  least." 

"Then  take  this.  The  medicine  man  said  you 
ought  to  have  sleep  and  told  me  to  give  it  to  you 
when  I  left.  I'll  tell  Barbara  in  the  morning 


BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS  357 

that  you  are  h^re.  Send  word  if  you  need  me 
during  the  night."  He  closed  the  door  quietly 
and  was  gone,  his  footfalls  echoing  faintly  down 
the  bare  hall. 

The  early  forenoon  sunlight  peeping  into  the 
injured  man's  room  saw  him  bolstered  up  in  bed 
with  a  litter  of  empty  breakfast  dishes  on  the 
table  beside  him.  The  physician  had  gone  a  few 
moments  before  with  a  smile  upon  his  face  at  the 
havoc  that  the  invalid  had  wrought  upon  the 
morning  meal.  A  light  knock  sounded  on  the 
pine  panel  and  Wilson  bade  the  visitor  enter. 

The  door  opened  and  Barbara  stood  before 
him  pale  but  clear  of  complexion,  the  ineffable 
tenderness  of  her  woman's  heart  mirrored  in  her 
softly  sympathetic  eyes,  and  in  the  sweetness  of 
the  smile  about  her  lips.  Slowly  she  advanced, 
sinking  upon  the  chair  by  the  bedside  at  his  mo- 
tion. 

He  took  her  hand  and  for  a  long  minute  they 
looked  into  each  others'  faces  with  no  word 
spoken.  "Barbara,"  he  whispered  at  last. 

"Yes,"  she  answered  very  low. 


358  BARBARA  OF  THE  SNOWS 

"I  have  come  back  to  tell  you." 

"And  I  have  come  to  listen.  But  my  ears 
hear  little." 

"Has  your  father  told  you  why  I  went  away 
as  I  did?" 

"He  told  me  some  things.  They  were  suffi- 
cient. I  do  not  ask  for  more." 

"But  did  he  tell  you  why  I  had  returned?" 

"Yes.     To  go  into  business." 

"Nothing  more?" 

"Nothing  more." 

"Then  listen  and  hear  the  rest.  Come  closer, 
please — loud  talking  hurts  my  side."  He  drew 
her  towards  him  until  her  ear  was  at  his  lips 
which  whispered  into  it.  And  as  the  whisper- 
ings grew  and  grew,  slowly  her  form  relaxed 
until  her  face  was  buried  upon  his  shoulder,  one 
white  forearm  stealing  softly  around  his  neck. 

And  it  was  thus  that  John  Findlay  entering 
live  minutes  later,  found  them. 

THE   END 


Popular  Copyright  Novels 

AT  MODERATE  PRICES 

Aak  your  dealer  f<x  a  complete 
Ilsf  of  A.  L-  Burt  Company's  Popular  Copyright  Fictiot. 


Abner  D»niel WiUN.  Barben 

Adventures  of  a  Modest  Man.  .Robert  W.  Chamber* 

Adventures  of  Sherlock  Holmes A.  Conan  Doyle 

After  House,  The Mary  Roberts  Rinehart 

Ailsa  Paige „ Robert  W.  Chambers 

Air  Pilot,  The. ...,. Randatt  Parnsh 

Alton  of  Somasco.  0 Harold  Bindkss 

Andrew  The  Glad Maria  Thompson  Daciess 

Ann  Boyd Will  N.  Harben 

Anna  the  Adventuress E.  Phillips  Oppenhdm 

Armchair  at  the  Inn,  The F.  Hopkinson  Smith 

As  the  Sparks  Fly  Upward Cyrus  Toumsend  Brady 

At  the  Mercy  of  Tiberius Augusta  Evans  Wilson 

At  the  Moorings Rosa  N.  Carey 

Aunt  Jane  of  Kentucky Eliza  CalvertHatt 

Awakening  of  Helena  Richie Margaret  Deland 

Bandbox,  The Louis  Joseph  Vance 

Bar  20 Clarence  E.  Murford 

Bar  20  Days Clarence  E.  Mulford 

Barrier,  The Rex  Beach 

Battle  Ground,  The Ellen  Glasgow 

Bella  Donna Robert Hichent 

Beloved  Vagabond,  The William  J.  Locke 

Ben  Blair Will  LiUibridge 

Beth  Norvell Randall  Parrish 

Betrayal,  The E.  Phillips  Oppenheim 

Beulah  (Illustrated  Edition) Augusta  J.  Evan$ 

Bob  Hampton  of  Placer Randall  Panisk 

Bob,  Son  of  Battle Alfred  OUivani 

Brass  Bowl,  The Louit  Joeepk  Vance 

Broad  Highway,  The Jeffery  Farnol 

Bronze  Bell,  The Louis  Joteph  Vance 

Buck  Peters,  Ranchman Ckrenet  ff.  Uulford 

Butterfly  Man,  The George  Ban  UiCutckeon 

By  Right  of  Purchase Harold  Bindloss 

Cabbages  and  Kings 0.  Henry 

Calling  of  Dan  Matthews,  The.  .Harold  Bell  Wright 

Call  of  the  Blood,  The RobertHichens 

Cape  Cod  Stories Joseph  C.  Lincoln 

Cap'n  En , Joseph  C.  Lincoln 

Cap'n  Warren's  Wards Joseph  C.  Lincoln 


Popular  Copyright  Novels 

AT  MODERATE  PRICES 

Ask  your  dealer  for  a  complete 
fist  of  A  L.  Burt  Company's  Popular  Copyright  Fiction 


Cardigan Robert  W.  Chambers 

Car  of  Destiny,  The C.N.cmdA.  M.  Williamson 

Carpet  From  Bagdad,  The Harold  MacGrath 

Casting  Away  of  Mrs.  Leeks  and  Mrs.  Aleshine. 

F.  R.  Stockton 

Chaperon,  The C.N.  and  A.  M.  Williamson 

Circle,  The Katherine  Cecil  Thurston 

Claw,  The Cynthia  Stockley 

Colonial  Free  Laace,  A Chauncey  C.  Holchkiss 

Coming  of  the  Law,  The Charks  Alden  Seltzer 

Conquest  of  Canaan,  The Booth  Tarkington 

Conspirators,  The Robert  \V.  Chambers 

Cordelia  Blossom George  Randolph  Chester 

Counsel  for  the  Defense Leroy  Scott 

Try  in  the  Wilderness,  A Mary  E.  Waller 

Dark  Hollow,  The Anna  Katharine  Green 

Day  of  Days,  The Louis  Joseph  Vance 

Depot  Master,  The Joseph  C.  Lincoln 

Derelicts William  J.  Locke 

Desired  Woman,  The> Witt  N.  Harben 

Destroying  Angel,  The Louis  Joseph  Vance 

Divine  Fire,  The May  Sinclair 

Dixie  Hart Will  N.  Harben 

Dominant  Dollar,  The Witt  Lillibridge 

Dr.  David Marjorie  Benton  Cooke 

Enchanted  Hat,  The Harold  MacGrath 

Excuse  Me Rupert  Hughes 

54-40  or  Fight Emerson  Hough 

Fighting  Chance,  The Robert  W.  Chambers 

Financier,  The Theodore  Dreiser 

Flamsted  Quarries Mary  E.  Waller 

For  a  Maiden  Brave Chauncey  C.  Holchkiss 

Four  Million,  The 0.  Henry 

jFrom  the  Car  Behind Eleanor  M.  Ingraham 

Fruitful  Vine,  The Robert  Hichens 

Gentleman  of  France,  A Stanley  Weyman 

Get-Rich-Quick-Wallingford.Geon/e  Randolph  Chester 

Gilbert  Neal Will  N.  Harben 

Girl  From  His  Town,  The Marie  Van  Vorst 

Glory  of  Clementina,  The William  J.  Locke 

Glory  of  the  Conquered,  The Susan  GlaspeU 


Popular  Copyright  Novels 

AT  MODERATE  PRICES 

Ask  youi  oealer  for  a  complete 
fist  of  A  L.   Bvrt  Company  s  Fopulai  Copyright  Fiction 


God's  Good  Man Marie  Corelli 

Going  Some Rex  Beach 

Gordon  Craig Randall  Pcrrish 

Greyfriarg  Bobby Eleanor  Atkinson 

Guests  of  Hercules,  The .  .C.N.  and  A.  M.  Williamson 

Ealcyone Elinor  Glyn 

Happy  Island  (Sequel  to  Uncle  William)  Jennette  Lee 

Havoc E.  Phillips  Oppenheiifi- 

Heart  of  the  Hills,  The John  Fox,  Jr. 

Heart  of  the  Desert,  The Honore  Willsie 

Heather-Moon,  The C.N.  and  A.  M.  Williamson 

Her  Weight  in  Gold George  Barr  McCutcheon 

Herb  of  Grace Rosa  N.  Carey 

Highway  of  Fate,  The Rosa  N.  Carey 

Homesteaders,  The Kate  and  Virgil  D.  Boyles 

Hopalong  Cassidy Clarence  E.  Mulford 

Honor  of  the  Big  Snows,  The.  James  Oliver  Curwood 

House  of  Happiness,  The Kale  Langley  Bosher 

House  of  the  Lost  Court,  The C.N.  Williamson 

House  of  the  Whispering  Pines,  The.  .Anna  K.  Green 

Household  of  Peter,  The Rosa  N.  Carey 

Hugh  Wynne,  Free  Quaker. .  .S.  Weir  Mitchell,  M.D. 

Husbands  of  Edith,  The George  Barr  McCutcheon 

Idols William  J.  Locke 

Illustrious  Prince,  The E.  Phillips  Oppenheim 

Imposter,  The John  Reed  Scott 

In  Defiance  of  the  King Chauncey  C.  Hotchkiss 

Indifference  of  Juliet,  The Grace  S.  Richmond 

Inez  (Illustrated  Edition) Augusta  J.  Evans 

Infelice Augusta  Evans  Wilson 

Initials  Only Anna  Katharine  Green 

Iron  Trail,  The Rex  Beach 

Iron  Woman,  The Margaret  Deland 

Ishmael  (Illustrated) . .  .Mrs.  E.  D.  E.  N.  Southworth 
Island  of  Regeneration,  The.  .Cyrus  Toimsend Brady 

Japonette Robert  W.  Chambers 

Jane  Cable George  Barr  McCutfheon 

Jeanne  of  the  Marshes E.  Phillips  Oppenheim 

Jennie  Gerhardt Theodore  Dreiser 

Joyful  Heatherby Payne  Erskine 

Judgment  House,  The Sir  Gilbert  Parker 


AT  MODERATE  PRICES 

Ask  your  dealer  for  a  complete 
fist  of  A  L«  Burt  Company's  Popular  Copyright  Fiction 


Keith  of  the  Border Randall  Parrish 

Key  to  the  Unknown,  The Rosa  N.  Carzy 

King  Spruce Holman  Day 

Knave  r.  Diamonds,  The Ethel  M.  DeU 

Lady  and  the  Pirate,  The Emerson  Hough 

Lady  Betty  Across  the  Water. 

C.  N.  and  A.  M.  Williamson 

Land  of  Long  Ago,  The Eliza  Calvert  Hall 

Langford  ol  the  Three  Bars  .Kate  and  Virgil  D.  Boyles 

Last  Trail,  The Zane  Grey 

Last  Voyage  of  the  Donna  Isabel.The  Randall  Parrisk 

Leavenworth  Case,  The Anna  Katherine  Green 

Life  Mask,  The Author  of  "  To  M.  L.  G." 

Lighted  Way,  The E.  Phillips  Oppenkeim 

Lin  McLean Owen  Wister 

Little  Brown  Jug  at  Kildare,  The .  Meredith  Nicholson 

Lonesome  Land B,  M.  Bower 

Lord  Loveland  Discovers  America. 

C.  N.  and  A.  M.  Williamson 

Lorimer  of  the  Northwest Harold  Bindloss 

Lorraine Robert  W.  Chamber* 

Lost  Ambassador,  The E.  Phillips  Oppenheim 

Love  Under  Fire .- Rindall  Parrish 

Macaria  (Illustrated  Edition) Augusta  J.  Evan* 

Maid  at  Arms,  The Robert  W.  Chamber* 

Maid  of  Old  New  York,  A Amelia  E.  Ban 

Maids  of  Paradise,  The Robert  W.  Chamber* 

Maid  of  the  Whispering  Hills,  The Vingie  E.  Roe 

Maid  of  the  Forest,  The Randall  Parrish 

Making  of  Bobby  Burnit,  The.  .Geo.  Randolph  Chester 

Mam'  Linda Will  N.  Harben 

Marriage H.  G.  Wells 

Marriage  a  la  Mode Mrs.  Humphrey  Ward 

Master  Mummer,  The E.  Phillips  Oppenheim 

Masters  of  the  Wheatlands Harold  Bindloss 

Max Katnerine  Cecil  Tkurston 

Mediator,  The Roy  Norton 

Hemoirs  of  Sherlock  Holmes.  .A.  Conan  Doyle 

Misaoner,  The E.  Phillips  Oppenheim 

Miss  Gibbie  Gault ktie  Langley  Bother 


Popular  Copyright  Novels 

AT  MODERATE  PRICES 

Ask  your  dealer  for  a  complete 
list  of  A.  L-  Burt  Company's  Popular  Copyright  Fiction 


Miss  Philura's  Wedding  Gown. 

Florence  Morse  Kingsky 

Miss  Selina  Lue Maria  Thompson  Daviess 

Mollie's  Prince Rosa  N.  Carey 

Molly  McDonald Randall  Parrish 

Money  Moon,  The Jeffery  Farnol 

Motor  Maid,  The C.  N.  and  A.  M.  Williamson 

Moth,  The William  Dana  Orcutt 

Mountain  Girl,  The. Payne  Erskine 

Mr.  Pratt Joseph  C.  Lincoln 

Mr.  Pratt's  Patients Joseph  C.  Lincoln 

Mrs.  Red  Pepper Grace  S.  Richmond 

My  Friend  the  Chauffeur .  C.N.  and  A.  M.  Williamson 

My  Lady  Caprice Jeffery  Farnol 

My  Lady  of  Doubt Randall  Parrish 

My  Lady  of  the  North Randall  Parrish 

My  Lady  of  the  South Randall  Parrish 

Mystery  Tales Edgar  Allen  Poe 

Mystery  of  the  Px>ule  Cabinet,  The. 

Burton  E.  Stevenson 

Nancy  Stair Elinor  Macartney  Lane 

Ne'er-Do-Well,  The Rex  Beach 

Net,  The Rex  Beach 

NightRiders,  The RidgwellCullum 

No  Friend  Like  a  Sister Rosa  N.  Carey 

Officer  666 . .  Barton  W.  Currie  and  Augustin  McHugh 

Once  Upon  a  Time Richard  Harding  Davis 

One  Braver  Thing Richard  Dehan 

One  Way  Trail,  The Ridgwell  Cullum 

Orphan,  The Clarence  E.  Mulford 

Out  of  the  Primitive Robert  Ames  Bennet 

Pam Bettina  Von  Hutten 

Pam  Decides Bettina  Von  Hulten 

Pardners. Rex  Beach 

Parrot  &  Co Harold  McGrath 

Partners  of  the  Tide Joseph  C.  Lincoln 

Passage  Perilous,  The Rosa  N.  Carey 

Passionate  Friends,  The H.  G.  Wells 

Paul  Anthony,  Christian Hiram  W.  Hays 

Peter  Ruff E.  Phillips  Oppenheim 

Phillip  Steele James  Oliver  Cunoood 


Popular  Copyright  Novels 

AT  MODERATE  PRICES 

Ask  your  dealer  for  a  complete 
list  of  A.  L.  Burt  Company's  Popular  Copyright  Fierier 


Phra  the  Phoenician Edwin  Lester  Arnold 

Pidgin  Island Harold  MacGrath 

Place  of  Honeymoons,  The Harold  MacGrath 

Pleasures  and  Palaces Juliet  Wilbor  Tompkins 

Plunderer,  The Roy  Norton 

Pole  Baker Will  N.  Harben 

Pool  of  Flame,  The Louis  Joseph  Vance 

Polly  of  the  Circus Margaret  Mayo 

Poppy . .  Cynthia  Stockley 

Port  of  Adventure,  The.  .C.  N.  and  A.  M.  Williamson 

Postmaster,  The Joseph  C.  Lincoln 

Power  and  the  Glory,  The. .  .Grace  McGowan  Cooke 

Price  of  the  Prairie,  The Margaret  Hill  McCarter 

Prince  of  Sinners,  A E.  Phillips  Oppenheim 

Prince  or  Chauffeur Lawrence  Perry 

Princess  Passes,  The  —  C.  N.  and  A.  M.  Williamson 
Princess  Virginia,  The.  .C.  N.  and  A  M.  Williamson 

Prisoners  of  Chance Randall  Parrish 

Prodigal  Son,  The HallCaine 

Purple  Parasol,  The George  Ban  McCulcheon 

R.  J.'s  Mother Margaret  Deland 

Ranching  for  Sylvia Harold  Bindloss 

Reason  Why,  The Elinor  Glyn 

Redemption  of  Kenneth  Gait,  The.  .Will  N.  Harben 

Red  Cross  Girl,  The Richard  Harding  Davis 

Red  Lane,  The Holman  Day 

Red  Pepper  Burns Grace  S.  Richmond 

Red  Republic,  The Robert  W.  Chambers 

Refugees,  The A.  Conan  Doyk 

Rejuvenation  of  Aunt  Mary,  The Anne  Warner 

Rise  of  Roscoe  Paine,  The Joseph  C.  Lincoln 

Road  to  Providence,  The. .  .Maria  Thompson  Daviess 

Robinetta Kate  Douglas  Wiggin 

Rose  in  the  Ring,  The George  Dan  McCutcheon 

Rose  of  the  World Agnes  and  Egerton  Castle 

Rose  of  Old  Harpeth,  The.  .Maria  Thompson  Daviess 
Round  the  Corner  in  Gay  Street. .  .Grace  S.  Richmond 

Routledge  Rides  Alone Will  Levington  Comfort 

Rue:  With  a  Difference Rosa  N.  Carey 

^  Elmo  (Illustrated  Edition) Augusta  J.  Evan* 

6'eats  of  the  Mighty,  The Gilbert  Parker 


University  of  California 

SOUTHERN  REGIONAL  LIBRARY  FACILITY 

Return  this  material  to  the  library 

from  which  it  was  borrowed. 


SEP  1  3  1989 
ILL. 


A     000  040  466     5 


